Compare towns
Hanover vs Milford vs Plymouth vs Lebanon
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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Milford | Plymouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,337Highest |
6,601Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Milford School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Milford High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.