Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Bedford 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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
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 | Windham | Bedford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Lyme and Bedford 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bedford 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bedford High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.