Compare towns
Hanover vs Alstead vs Springfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Alstead | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,551 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Alstead and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Springfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.