Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Henniker vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Pembroke 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 | Dover | Hanover | Henniker | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
6,197Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Henniker School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.