Compare towns
Hanover vs Dover vs Wolfeboro vs Hanover
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 highest household income ($170k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
33,364Highest |
6,571Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
| Hanover 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±$61k 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.