Compare towns
Hanover vs Dublin vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Dublin | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
1,688 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Dublin and Nelson 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% |
21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson 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% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,165 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hanover 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 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.