Compare towns
Berwick vs Durham vs Hanover vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Berwick | Durham | Hanover | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
10,681 |
11,685Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Lee and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → |
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.