Compare towns

Durham vs Durham vs Hanover vs Newfields

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newfields has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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.

MeasureDurhamDurhamHanoverNewfields
People
Population
10,681
15,080Highest
11,685
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
20.8±0.3
52% below NH
28.7±5.1
34% below NH
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25kLowest
13% above NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,000±$45kLowest
24% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
Hanover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
19 min
27% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
26 minHighest
4% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Newfields 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 #9 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH —
School district — Oyster River Coop School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newfields School District
High school in town — Oyster River High School Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.