Compare towns
Newington vs Hanover vs Lebanon 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
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
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 | Newington | Hanover | Lebanon | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
11,685 |
14,999Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.