Compare towns
Hanover vs Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Lebanon
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).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lyme | Bethlehem | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
2,537 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.