Compare towns
Lyme vs Franconia vs Durham vs Hanover
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | Franconia | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Franconia 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% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| 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 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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 NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 22% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 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 | Lafayette Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.