Compare towns
Newmarket vs Durham vs Hanover vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newmarket | Durham | Hanover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
15,080 |
8,479Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Oyster River High School | — | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.