Compare towns
Lyme vs Castleton vs Hanover vs Newfields
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Castleton | Hanover | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,453 |
11,685Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 94% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newfields 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.