Compare towns
Durham vs Stratham vs Plaistow 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Stratham | Plaistow | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
7,754Lowest |
7,861 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plaistow 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 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 |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.