Compare towns
Durham vs Pittsfield vs Durham 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
Pittsfield has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Pittsfield | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,105Lowest |
10,681 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
41.5±5.1Highest 4% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Pittsfield 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% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above 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 |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$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%±16 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
68.8% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Pittsfield School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Pittsfield High School | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.