Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs Nottingham vs Plymouth
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).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Lee | Nottingham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
4,576Lowest |
5,357 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Lee and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Hanover and Lee 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hanover and Nottingham 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Hanover 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.