Compare towns
Hanover vs Hillsborough vs Durham vs Windham
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 people working from home (26.4%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Hillsborough | Durham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
5,980Lowest |
15,080 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Windham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Oyster River High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.