Compare towns
Hanover vs Plymouth vs Windham vs Bedford
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 expensive homes ($825k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Windham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
6,601Lowest |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 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±$36k 71% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Windham 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±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Windham High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.