Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Lee vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Eliot | Hanover | Lee | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685Highest |
4,576 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $2,155±$292 53% 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 | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.