Compare towns
Hanover vs Meredith vs White River Junction vs Wolfeboro
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 highest household income ($170k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | White River Junction | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,758 |
3,364Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Hanover 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% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.