Compare towns
Hanover vs Kensington vs Stratham vs Norwich
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).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($638k median).
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 | Kensington | Stratham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
2,009Lowest |
7,754 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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 153% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,637Lowest 209% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Kensington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.