What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Hanover
People
Population	15,080Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	28.7±5.1Highest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hanover and Durham 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%	19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above 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±$41kLowest 25% above NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$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%	66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	20 minHighest 27% below NH
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest 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
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.