Compare towns
Hanover vs Eliot vs Plymouth
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
7,146 |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% 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. |
$6,288 102% 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% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.