Compare towns
Hanover vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Durham
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Middlesex | Windham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
1,943Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% 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. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Windham High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.