Compare towns
Lyme vs Hanover vs Concord vs Dorchester
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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Concord | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,479 |
44,375Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Concord 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Concord High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.