Compare towns
Hanover vs Meredith vs Kingston vs Windham
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Meredith | Kingston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
6,758 |
6,275Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| 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 105% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
| 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 51% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.