Compare towns
Durham vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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 20.8).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Castleton | Brookfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% 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 | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Hanover 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 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.