Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Lee vs Windham
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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover 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±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest 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% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.