Compare towns
Hanover vs Lyme vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,416 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hanover and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.