Compare towns
White River Junction vs Portsmouth vs Hanover
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Portsmouth | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
22,545Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Hanover 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | 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 |
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.