Compare towns
Lyme vs Hanover vs Newington vs Thetford
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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Newington | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,479Highest |
939Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Newington 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 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newington 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. |
$842,600±$97k 153% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newington and Hanover 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Newington 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newington School District | Thetford 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 | 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.