Compare towns
Lyme vs Pembroke 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Pembroke | Hanover | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,438 |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Pembroke 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%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% |
3.5%±1.6 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±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% 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. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,589Lowest 143% 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% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% 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% |
17%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Pembroke School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.