Compare towns
Lyme vs Hancock vs Andover
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%).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
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 | Hancock | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
1,791 |
2,135Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46±11.6Lowest 6% above NH |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.1%±7.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$366,500±$44kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,211±$190 19% below NH |
| Lyme and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$5,962Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.