Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Stratham vs Wilmot
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Stratham | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
7,754 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.