Compare towns
Durham vs Epping vs Hanover 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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanover has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Epping | Hanover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,430Lowest |
8,479 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
88.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Epping School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Epping High School | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 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.