Compare towns
Lyme vs Gray 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,429 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Gray 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.