Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hanover vs Suncook vs Hopkinton
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Hanover | Suncook | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
11,685Highest |
5,432 |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Hanover and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hopkinton 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 | — | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.