Compare towns
Lyme vs Hancock vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,791Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Hancock and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Lyme and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lyme and Hancock 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 |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school 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.