Compare towns
Stratham vs Dorset vs Hanover vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Dorset has the most affordable homes ($569k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Stratham | Dorset | Hanover | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
2,092 |
8,479Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Newfields 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 |
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.