Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hanover vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Barnstead | Hanover | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
11,685Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and White River Junction 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.