Compare towns

Lebanon vs Hanover vs Henniker vs Hartford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% 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.

MeasureLebanonHanoverHennikerHartford
People
Population
14,999Highest
11,685
6,197Lowest
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
31.1±6.1
20% below U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
Hartford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$356,700±$49k
7% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,877
185% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
20 minHighest
23% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT
School district Lebanon School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Henniker School District Hartford School District
High school in town Lebanon High School Hanover High School None in town Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
10.7
—
9.6Lowest
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.