Compare towns
Strafford vs Hanover vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Strafford | Hanover | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
11,685Highest |
6,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
| Hanover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.