Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs New Hampton
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 expensive homes ($825k median).
New Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
2,509Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover and New Hampton 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% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% below 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,973Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest 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 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.