Compare towns
Stratham vs Hillsborough vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
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 | Stratham | Hillsborough | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
5,980Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Stratham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% 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 | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% 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 | $9,781 47% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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 | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.