Compare towns
Hanover vs Plainfield vs Norwich vs Stratham
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Norwich | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,640 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| 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 153% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% 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. |
$7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.