Compare towns
Auburn vs Hanover vs Windham vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
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 | Auburn | Hanover | Windham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
11,685 |
16,038 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below 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 | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Windham High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.