Compare towns
Hanover vs Dedham vs Windham vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Dedham | Windham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Lowest |
25,237Highest |
16,038 |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| 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 148% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dedham | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Dedham High | Windham High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.