What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Hanover
People
Population	531Lowest	8,479Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S.	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average	$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S.	$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Brookline 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	—	#1 of 120 in NH
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.