Compare towns
Hanover vs Keene vs Milford vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hanover | Keene | Milford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,939Highest |
16,337 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Milford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.