What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Exeter
People
Population	11,685Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Exeter 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%	59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH	$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH	$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH	$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH
	Hanover and Exeter 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	$8,814Lowest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 27% below NH	25 minHighest 7% below NH
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover and Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Hanover High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 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.