Compare towns
Hanover vs Auburn vs Lebanon vs Windham
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Auburn | Lebanon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
6,119Lowest |
14,999 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% 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±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% 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 | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham 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% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
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.