Compare towns
Hanover vs Newfields vs Portsmouth 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Newfields | Portsmouth | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,023 |
22,545Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.