Compare towns
Lyme vs Bow vs Plainfield vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | Bow | Plainfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
2,522 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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 | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Plainfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.