Compare towns
Hanover vs Springfield vs Stoddard 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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Stoddard | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,122 |
1,072Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Stoddard and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Stoddard 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stoddard 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% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% 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 |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Stoddard School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.