Compare towns
Hanover vs Ashland vs Windham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Windham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,183Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Ashland and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% 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 | $824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Ashland School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.