Compare towns
Hanover vs Strafford vs Lebanon
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).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Strafford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,306Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Lebanon 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Hanover and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Strafford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.