Compare towns
Lyme vs Amesbury vs Hanover vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Lyme | Amesbury | Hanover | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
17,403Highest |
11,685 |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% 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 | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Amesbury | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.