Compare towns

Hanover vs Lee vs Newfields 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureHanoverLeeNewfieldsWindham
People
Population
11,685
4,576
2,023Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
41.1±2.9
5% below NH
Newfields and Lee 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%
21.9%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$131,579±$54kLowest
33% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$189,583±$19k
91% above NH
Newfields and Windham 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
$480,600±$61kLowest
19% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% 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
—
$1,875±$323Lowest
26% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$9,661Lowest
45% above 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%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
95.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1991
12 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
27% below NH
28 min
about the NH average
26 min
4% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
26.4%±5
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee 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 #3 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Oyster River Coop School District Newfields School District Windham School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
— —
12.8Highest
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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.