Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Exeter | Hanover | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.