Compare towns
Brookline vs Canaan vs Hanover vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Brookline | Canaan | Hanover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
3,811Lowest |
8,479Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Canaan and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.