Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Weare
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Hanover | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,479Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Weare 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.