Compare towns
Hanover vs Pelham vs Stratham 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
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 | Pelham | Stratham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
14,449 |
7,754Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Stratham and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Stratham 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% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hanover 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Pelham High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.