Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs Mapleton 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 the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Hooksett | Mapleton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Mapleton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%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% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 History | None yet | 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.