Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs Pelham
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 most affordable homes ($481k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Lee and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hanover 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.