Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Hanover vs Mapleton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Castle Hill | Hanover | Mapleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,884 |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$209,700±$30k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,478 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.