Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham 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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,479 |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.