Compare towns
Hanover vs Stratham vs Exeter vs Henniker
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Stratham | Exeter | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
7,754 |
16,151Highest |
6,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Exeter 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| 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 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| 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 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.