Compare towns
Madbury vs Lyme vs Hanover vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Madbury | Lyme | Hanover | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
1,710Lowest |
8,479Highest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Lyme and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
| Hanover and Holderness 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 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 | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | — | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.