Compare towns
Hanover vs Lyme vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,710 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Nelson 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Lyme 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.