Compare towns
Hanover vs Windham vs Eliot 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 people working from home (26.7%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Windham | Eliot | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,038Highest |
7,146Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest 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±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | 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 → |
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.