Compare towns
Durham vs Francestown vs Danbury 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).
Francestown has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
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 | Francestown | Danbury | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,398Lowest |
1,451 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Francestown and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Danbury 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% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Danbury and Francestown 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% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| 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 25% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,281±$390Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±36.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
36 min 35% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | — | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | 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 Our Story | 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.