Compare towns
Stratham vs Keene vs Hanover vs Brookline
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 oldest population (median age 41.6).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Keene | Hanover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
22,939Highest |
11,685 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Keene School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.