Compare towns
Hanover vs Lebanon vs Grafton
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Grafton has the most kids (21% 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 | Lebanon | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
14,999Highest |
1,354Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average |
| Grafton 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Grafton 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.