Compare towns
Hanover vs Portsmouth vs Plaistow 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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Portsmouth | Plaistow | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,545Highest |
7,861Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plaistow 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
11.4 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.