Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Keene vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Hanover | Keene | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
11,685Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.