Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hanover vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Dunbarton | Hanover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
8,479Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% 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 | $484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 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 | 3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.