Compare towns
Hanover vs Concord vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Concord | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
44,375Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Brookline and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | — | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.