Compare towns
Hanover vs Townsend vs Hanover
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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Townsend | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
9,100 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover 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. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.