Compare towns
Hanover vs Henniker vs Lebanon vs Plaistow
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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Henniker | Lebanon | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
6,197Lowest |
14,999Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.