Compare towns
Lyme vs Norwich vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Norwich | Hanover | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
8,479Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 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 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | — | Hampton Falls 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.