Compare towns

Hanover vs Newfields vs Exeter vs Windham

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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureHanoverNewfieldsExeterWindham
People
Population
11,685
2,023Lowest
16,151Highest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above NH
41.1±2.9
5% below NH
Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Exeter 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%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$110,346±$13kLowest
11% above NH
$189,583±$19k
91% above NH
Newfields 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±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$456,600±$21kLowest
13% above NH
$723,300±$50k
80% above NH
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
51% above NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
$1,856±$223Lowest
24% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,814Lowest
32% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1991
12 yrs newer than NH
1979
same as NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
27% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
25 min
7% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Newfields 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 — #22 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newfields School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Windham School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Exeter High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.1
12.8Highest
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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.