Compare towns

Brentwood vs Hanover vs Henniker vs Hillsborough

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureBrentwoodHanoverHennikerHillsborough
People
Population
4,641Lowest
11,685Highest
6,197
5,980
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
43.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
Brentwood and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
Brentwood and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Brentwood and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,509±$23k
67% above NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$84,495±$12kLowest
15% below NH
Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,217±$654
49% above NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,198±$390
20% below NH
Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,713
46% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,877
33% above NH
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.9%±37.7
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above NH
20 minLowest
27% below NH
20 min
24% below NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
Work from home
23.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Brentwood 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 #16 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #97 of 120 in NH
School district Brentwood School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Henniker School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Hanover High School None in town Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Highest
—
9.5Lowest
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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.