Compare towns
Barnstead vs Milton vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | Barnstead | Milton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,538Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Milton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Milton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.