Compare towns
Durham vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
1,372Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above 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% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school 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 |
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.