Compare towns
Durham vs Needham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
32,459Highest |
11,685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Needham 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±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hanover 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.