Compare towns
Durham vs Hillsborough vs Hopkinton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Hillsborough | Hopkinton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
5,980Lowest |
6,037 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% 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 | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hopkinton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hopkinton High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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.