Compare towns

Henniker vs Keene vs Hanover vs Weare

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureHennikerKeeneHanoverWeare
People
Population
6,197Lowest
22,939Highest
11,685
9,170
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+3.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
45.6±4Highest
5% above NH
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Weare and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
4.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$118,271±$17k
19% above NH
Hanover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$396,300±$26k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,541±$214
3% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
33% above NH
$6,812
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,272Lowest
6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±24.6
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Weare 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 #56 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH #84 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Keene School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School Hanover High School John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.