Compare towns
Lyme vs Hanover vs Durham vs Norwich
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Durham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
11,685Highest |
10,681 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.