Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs South Berwick vs Windham
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Lee | South Berwick | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
7,670 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%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 |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and Windham 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%±6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and South Berwick 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% 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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover 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±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above 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% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.