Compare towns
Hanover vs Dedham vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k 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 | Dedham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
25,237Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Dedham 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
U.S. 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.