Compare towns
Hanover vs Stratham vs Plymouth 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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
7,754 |
6,601Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.