Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Hanover vs Windham
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).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Hanover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
8,479Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% 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%±16 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.