Compare towns
Hanover vs Durham vs Kensington
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 people working from home (26.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kensington has the oldest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Hanover and Kensington 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 |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| Hanover and Kensington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.