Compare towns
Hanover vs Needham 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k median).
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 | Needham | Windham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,038 |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% 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. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Needham 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% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% 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% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older 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. |
28 min 5% 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Needham | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Needham High | Windham High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.