Compare towns
Orange vs Hanover vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Alexandria has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Orange | Hanover | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,983 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
52.6±5Highest 21% above NH |
| Alexandria and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alexandria and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$89,194±$8kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$323,300±$27k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,135±$273Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132 23% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,021Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±40.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Orange 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 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | — |
| 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.