Compare towns
Lyme vs Newington vs Hanover 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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
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 | Newington | Hanover | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
939Lowest |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
| 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±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above 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. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newington School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None 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.