Compare towns
Grafton vs Hanover vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Grafton | Hanover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354Lowest |
11,685Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Grafton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.