Compare towns
Dublin vs Nelson 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
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Dublin | Nelson | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688 |
648Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.