Compare towns
Weare vs Stratham 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
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Weare | Stratham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
7,754Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Weare and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest 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+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above 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 | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above 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 | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 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 | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.