Compare towns
Hanover vs Dorset vs Durham vs Bedford
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 expensive homes ($825k median).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Dorset | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,092Lowest |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford 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. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.