Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Hanover vs Newfields
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hanover | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
10,681Highest |
8,479 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| 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+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.