Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Stratham vs Hanover vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Rollinsford | Stratham | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626 |
7,754 |
8,479Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% 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 | $6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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 | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.