Compare towns

Enfield vs Hanover vs Dover vs Lebanon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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.

MeasureEnfieldHanoverDoverLebanon
People
Population
4,475Lowest
11,685
33,364Highest
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.3±5.4Highest
35% above NH
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
Kids under 18
7.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.7%±7.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Enfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,474±$19k
4% below NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,800±$71k
about the NH average
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
$385,400±$29kLowest
4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,181±$563Lowest
21% below NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,203Lowest
7% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
$8,149
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.8%±16.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
11% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
Work from home
11%±5.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Lebanon 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 #5 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH
School district Mascoma Valley Regional School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Dover School District Lebanon School District
High school in town None in town Hanover High School Dover Senior High School Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
12.7Highest
11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.