Compare towns
Hanover vs Seabrook Beach 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).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,001Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest 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% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% 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±$61k 105% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | 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.