Compare towns
Hanover vs Ashland vs Stratham 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 ($825k median).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Ashland | Stratham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,183Lowest |
7,754 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Ashland and Stratham 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% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above 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 | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above 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 |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Ashland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| 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.