Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Durham
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 most kids (10.3% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Hanover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,479Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3Highest 50% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Lowest 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% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 27% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 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.