Compare towns

Wilder vs Hanover vs Dorset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.

MeasureWilderHanoverDorset
People
Population
3,087
8,479Highest
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
45.9±7.5Highest
18% above U.S.
Dorset and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$111,250±$40k
38% above U.S.
Hanover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
$569,200±$57k
71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,420±$296
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,489
140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
22 minHighest
18% below U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dorset and Hanover 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 — — Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town — — None in town
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.