Compare towns

Hanover vs Fair Haven vs Durham

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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.

MeasureHanoverFair HavenDurham
People
Population
11,685
2,724Lowest
15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
39.2±7.6Highest
about the U.S. average
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
Fair Haven and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Fair Haven and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Fair Haven 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%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$176,500±$14kLowest
47% below U.S.
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$830±$116Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,865Lowest
24% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±20.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Durham 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 #66 of 70 in VT #9 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town Hanover High School Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.8Highest
12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 51 photos →

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.