Compare towns
Newfields vs Hanover vs Orford vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Newfields | Hanover | Orford | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
11,685Highest |
1,295Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Orford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.