Compare towns
Hanover vs Meredith vs Madbury
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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,758 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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±$48k 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below 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% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Meredith 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.