Compare towns
Hanover vs Windham vs Hooksett 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 people working from home (26.7%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Windham | Hooksett | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Hooksett and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hooksett 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 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±$26k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| 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 109% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| 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 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | 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 → |
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.