Compare towns
Hanover vs Dorset vs Sandgate
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 highest household income ($170k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,092 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Dorset 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. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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 | 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.