Compare towns

Hanover vs Johnson vs White River Junction vs Stratham

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).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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.

MeasureHanoverJohnsonWhite River JunctionStratham
People
Population
11,685Highest
3,450
3,364Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
30.9±6.5
21% below U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
Stratham and White River Junction 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%
22.7%±5
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Johnson 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%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham 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%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Hanover and Stratham 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.
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217
59% above U.S.
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham and Hanover 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 221% above U.S.
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Stratham 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%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Stratham 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 #57 of 70 in VT — #43 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
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On TownTapestry
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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.