What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Bath
People
Population	11,685Highest	8,815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bath 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath 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 U.S.: 35.7%	42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Bath 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	#31 of 133 in ME
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town	Hanover High School	Morse High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.