What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Keene
People
Population	11,685Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH	37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hanover and Keene 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%	44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	13.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH	$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,812Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 27% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 120 in NH	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Hanover High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.