Compare towns
Durham vs Windsor vs Salisbury 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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Windsor | Salisbury | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
3,554 |
1,609Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Salisbury 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% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% 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. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Salisbury 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% 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% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Salisbury 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Merrimack Valley 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 Our Story | 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.