Compare towns
Hanover vs Salisbury vs Springfield vs Stoddard
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).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Springfield | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,609 |
1,122 |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard 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% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,917±$632 29% above NH |
$1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Hanover and Salisbury 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 |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stoddard 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Salisbury 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.