Compare towns
Lyme vs Hanover vs Plymouth
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,479Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 22% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.