Compare towns
Lyme vs South Hampton vs North Hampton vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | South Hampton | North Hampton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
984Lowest |
4,543 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | North Hampton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.