Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Townsend 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Townsend | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
9,100Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.