Compare towns
Dorset vs Hanover vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Dorset | Hanover | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
11,685Highest |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.