What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 50.6).

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	Bethlehem
People
Population	11,685Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem 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%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 27% below NH	20 minHighest 24% below NH
Work from home	26.4%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Hanover High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.