Compare towns

Hanover vs Durham vs Lee vs Henniker

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).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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.

MeasureHanoverDurhamLeeHenniker
People
Population
8,479
10,681Highest
4,576Lowest
6,197
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
21.8±0.3
50% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
Kids under 18
9.8%±2.2
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Henniker 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%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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%
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
49.8%±2.5
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,281±$26kHighest
55% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
Hanover and Lee 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
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,254±$249Highest
51% above NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
—
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$9,661
45% above NH
$8,877Lowest
33% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72%±17.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6
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%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.4%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
29% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
28 minHighest
about the NH average
20 min
24% below NH
Work from home
26.7%±6
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee 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 #9 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH
School district — — Oyster River Coop School District Henniker School District
High school in town — — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 10 photos → 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.