Compare towns
Hanover vs Stoddard vs Salisbury
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Stoddard | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
51.5±4.5 19% 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest 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% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,917±$632 29% above 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 |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 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 | Stoddard School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.