Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,426Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lyme 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below 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 |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.