Compare towns
Newfields vs Springfield vs Hanover vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Springfield | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
1,122Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Springfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | Newfields School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme 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 |
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.