Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Keene vs Newington
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).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Keene | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
11,685 |
22,939Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Keene 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Hanover 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington 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 |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.