What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Lincoln has the oldest population (median age 46.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Lincoln
People
Population	11,685Highest	1,461Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH	46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lincoln and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lincoln 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%	38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH	$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH	$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH	$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$2,984Lowest 55% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%	49.7%±26Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	72%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 27% below NH	23 minHighest 15% below NH
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±8.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover and Lincoln 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	—
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District
High school in town	Hanover High School	Lin-Wood Public School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.