Compare towns
Dorchester vs Wilmot 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Wilmot has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Wilmot | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,487 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Dorchester and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $117,759±$15kLowest 19% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wilmot 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 |
| School district | — | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.