Compare towns
Lee vs Eliot vs Hanover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Lee | Eliot | Hanover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,146 |
8,479 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.