Compare towns
Lyme vs Needham vs Hanover
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 affordable homes ($645k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
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 | Needham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Lyme 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.