Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Weare vs Lebanon
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).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Weare | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
9,170Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Weare and Lebanon 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hanover 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | John Stark Regional High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
11.7 |
| 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.