Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Hanover vs Wilmot
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$117,759±$15kLowest 19% 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$130 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.