Compare towns
Strafford vs Hanover vs Warren vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Warren | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
11,685Highest |
1,585 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
53.1±4.2 37% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123k 71% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,750±$394 24% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,284 134% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Hanover 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 | Strafford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.