Compare towns
Marlow vs Hanover vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Marlow | Hanover | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
11,685Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,558Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lempster School District |
| 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 | 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.