Compare towns
Hanover vs Eliot vs Durham vs Lebanon
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Eliot | Durham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
7,146Lowest |
15,080Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 148% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.