Compare towns
Hanover vs Plymouth vs Hillsborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Hillsborough has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Plymouth | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,601 |
5,980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.