Compare towns
Hanover vs Dover vs Plymouth vs Durham
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Dover | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
33,364Highest |
6,601Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9Highest 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Dover 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7 |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.