Compare towns
Canaan vs Durham vs Hanover vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Canaan | Durham | Hanover | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
— |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.