Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Derry | Dover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,364 |
11,685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.