Compare towns
Hanover vs Durham vs Plainfield 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,681 |
2,522Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| 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.