Compare towns
Hanover vs Dunbarton vs Amherst vs Durham
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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Dunbarton | Amherst | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
3,097Lowest |
11,861 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Hanover and Amherst 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 |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dunbarton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.