Compare towns
Hanover vs New Castle vs Durham
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 kids (14.4% under 18).
New Castle has the oldest population (median age 62.8).
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 | New Castle | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
827Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| New Castle 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±$61k 105% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | New Castle School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.