Compare towns
Hancock vs Hanover vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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 | Hancock | Hanover | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
11,685Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Hancock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Springfield 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 | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| 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.