Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Hanover | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
11,685Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.