Compare towns

Durham vs Greenland vs South Eliot 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).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.

MeasureDurhamGreenlandSouth EliotHanover
People
Population
15,080Highest
4,106Lowest
4,203
11,685
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
48.4±7.7
24% above U.S.
55.5±8Highest
43% above U.S.
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
South Eliot and Greenland 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%
19.8%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Greenland and South Eliot 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%
28.9%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
32.8%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
South Eliot and Greenland 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%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.9%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%
2.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$162,837±$11k
102% above U.S.
$99,299±$9kLowest
23% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
Hanover and Greenland 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.
$662,800±$42k
99% above U.S.
$475,600±$52kLowest
43% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,331±$363Highest
65% above U.S.
$2,155±$292
53% above U.S.
$2,253±$217
59% above U.S.
Greenland 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 221% above U.S.
$7,420
138% above U.S.
$4,442Lowest
42% 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%
77.3%±44.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±29.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Greenland 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%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
32.2%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Greenland 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 #10 of 120 in NH — #1 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Greenland School District — Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town Oyster River High School None in town — Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
— —
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.