Compare towns
Lee vs Hanover vs Dorset
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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.
| Measure | Lee | Hanover | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
11,685Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lee 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.