Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Windham vs Wolfeboro
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 most affordable homes ($499k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Windham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685 |
16,038Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% 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±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% 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±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Windham High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.