Compare towns
Durham vs Deerfield vs Mont Vernon 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Deerfield | Mont Vernon | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
4,932 |
2,636Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Mont Vernon and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Deerfield School District | Mont Vernon 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 | 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.