Compare towns
Hanover vs Bethlehem vs Hancock
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).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Bethlehem | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,537 |
1,791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Bethlehem 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% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Hancock 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%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Bethlehem 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% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.