Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Lebanon
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 youngest population (median age 21.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Stratham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,151Highest |
7,754Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.