Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Stowe
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 youngest population (median age 21.8).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Exeter | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,151Highest |
5,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.