Compare towns
Hanover vs Hartford vs Pelham
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hartford | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,736Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Pelham 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Pelham 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hanover 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hartford School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Hartford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.