Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.