Compare towns
Hanover vs Milford vs Somersworth 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).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Milford | Somersworth | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,337Highest |
12,111 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Somersworth 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Somersworth 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.