Compare towns
Lyme vs Wilder 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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Wilder | Hanover | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,087 |
11,685Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lyme 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%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% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% 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+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 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 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.