Compare towns
Hanover vs Lancaster vs Hanover
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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Lancaster | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
3,216Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% 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±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.