Compare towns
White River Junction vs Dover vs Hanover vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Dover | Hanover | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
33,364Highest |
11,685 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.