Compare towns
Plymouth vs Hanover vs Hillsborough vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hillsborough has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Hanover | Hillsborough | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
11,685Highest |
5,980 |
4,969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Hanover High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7 |
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.