Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs South Berwick vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | South Berwick | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
7,670 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 148% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.