Compare towns
Durham vs Dedham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Dedham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Lowest |
25,237Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Dedham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.