Compare towns
Weare vs Durham vs Hanover vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Litchfield has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Weare | Durham | Hanover | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Weare and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
| Hanover and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$2,138±$406 43% above NH |
| Hanover and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.