Compare towns

Hanover vs Stowe vs Durham

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 most expensive homes ($843k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureHanoverStoweDurham
People
Population
8,479
5,285Lowest
15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
21.8±0.3
44% below U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
Kids under 18
9.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.6%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe and Hanover 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%
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
49.8%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
90% above U.S.
$93,618±$33kLowest
16% above U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
Hanover and Durham 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.
$647,800±$157k
95% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kLowest
52% above U.S.
Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,458±$242
3% above U.S.
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,161Lowest
130% 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%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minHighest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Stowe 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 — #9 of 120 in NH
School district — Stowe Town School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town — Stowe High School Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.