Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Sunapee
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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Hanover and Sunapee 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.