Compare towns
Orford vs Hanover vs Wentworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Wentworth has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Orford | Hanover | Wentworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
11,685Highest |
1,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36±5.1 17% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±7.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wentworth and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.2%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Wentworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$97,708±$24k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$304,500±$39k 24% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,659±$794 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Wentworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,532Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±43.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Wentworth School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.