Compare towns
Hanover vs Jackson vs Sandwich
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 kids (14.4% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Sandwich has the most affordable homes ($438k median).
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 | Jackson | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
897Lowest |
1,757 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
7%±3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH |
$140,694±$22k 42% above NH |
| Hanover and Sandwich 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 |
$719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
$437,700±$79kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hanover and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
$1,679±$1kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hanover and Jackson 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 50% above NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Sandwich 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich and Hanover 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Jackson School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.