Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Brookline
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 expensive homes ($825k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,151Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.