Compare towns
Lyme vs Springfield 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Springfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
154,749Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5 13% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lyme 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. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Springfield | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.