Compare towns
Hanover vs Portsmouth vs White River Junction vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Portsmouth | White River Junction | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,545Highest |
3,364 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 148% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Portsmouth School District | — | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.