Compare towns
Hanover vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
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 highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
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 | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth 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% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.