Compare towns
Hanover vs White River Junction vs Lyme vs Lebanon
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | White River Junction | Lyme | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
3,364 |
1,710Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Lyme School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| 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.