Compare towns
Lyme vs Dover vs Hanover
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 most affordable homes ($645k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
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 | Dover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,930 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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 | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Lyme 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 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.