Compare towns
Hanover vs Williston vs Lyme vs Stratham
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Williston | Lyme | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,144 |
1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stratham 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 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 70 in VT | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | 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 |
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.