Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Eliot
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,151Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.