Compare towns
Webster vs Hanover vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Webster | Hanover | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
11,685Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,917±$632 29% above NH |
| Hanover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Salisbury 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.