Compare towns
Durham vs Rye vs South Eliot 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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Rye | South Eliot | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,611 |
4,203Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — | 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 |
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.