Compare towns
Lyme vs Topsham vs Wilmot 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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Topsham | Wilmot | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,706 |
1,487Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Wilmot 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Topsham 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% 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% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 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.