Compare towns
Hanover vs Thornton vs Rumney
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Rumney has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Thornton | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,799 |
1,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rumney and Hanover 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney 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% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Thornton 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Hanover 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Thornton School District | Rumney 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.