What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the oldest population (median age 46.8).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	Hanover
People
Population	1,461Lowest	8,479Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH	21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%	9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1%	17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	89.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH	$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH	$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH	$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,984Lowest 55% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±26Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 15% below NH	19 minLowest 29% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±8.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover and Lincoln 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
School district	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District	—
High school in town	Lin-Wood Public School (High)	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.