Compare towns
Hanover vs Eliot vs Lebanon vs Canaan
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 highest household income ($170k).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Lebanon | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
7,146 |
14,999Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Canaan 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 11.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.