Compare towns
Hanover vs Pelham vs Durham
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 most expensive homes ($843k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k 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 | Pelham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
14,449 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Pelham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Pelham High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.