Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Brookline vs Hanover
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Keene | Brookline | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,939Highest |
5,736Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Brookline 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Keene 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Brookline School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.