Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hanover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Wolfeboro | Hanover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Lowest |
8,479 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.