Compare towns
Hanover vs Windham vs Thornton
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Windham | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,038Highest |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Thornton 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Windham and Hanover 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 |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.