Compare towns
Hanover vs Stratham vs Middlesex
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).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Stratham | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
7,754 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.