What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Waltham
People
Population	11,685Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanover and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Waltham 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	—
High school in town	Hanover High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.