Compare towns
Durham vs Meredith vs Stratham 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Stratham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,758Lowest |
7,754 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.1 |
— | 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.