Compare towns
Hanover vs Concord vs Dorchester
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 kids (17.2% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
44,375Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Concord High School | — |
| 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.