What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bradford has the oldest population (median age 50.3).

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	Bradford
People
Population	11,685Highest	1,565Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH	50.3±5.2Highest 16% above NH
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.3%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH	$108,015±$21kLowest 9% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH	$341,700±$38kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH	$1,507±$206Lowest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,307Lowest 5% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%	41.1%±22.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Bradford 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%	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 27% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	18.6%±8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover and Bradford 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	—
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	Hanover High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.