Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanover vs Stratham vs Wolfeboro
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).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hanover | Stratham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
11,685Highest |
7,754 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
88.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.