Compare towns
Hanover vs Williston vs Stratham vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Williston | Stratham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,144 |
7,754Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Stratham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.