The Town FilesHanover, New Hampshire
Community in Grafton County · population 9,078 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $842,600
- Household income
- $153,281
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 21.8
Hanover is a community of 9,078 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $842,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of New Hampshire towns, more of a college town than 100% of New Hampshire towns, better for cycling than 100% of New Hampshire towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Hampshire
- #4 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in America
- #4 in The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
- #17 in The 50 Best College Places in America
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #41 in The 50 Best Places for Young Professionals in America
How Hanover ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hanover is worth $842,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $153,281, which is more affordable than 7% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $2,254 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hanover | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $842,600 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $2,254 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $153,281 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.7% | — |
Who lives in Hanover
| People | Hanover | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.8 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 89.2% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.8% | — |
| Work from home | 26.7% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 92.5% |
Weather in Hanover
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 13.0°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 60.6 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanover since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Hanover itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Towns near Hanover
- Wilder, VT3.3 mi · 3,071 people · home $273,200
- Hanover, NH4.4 mi · 11,870 people · home $824,900
- White River Junction, VT5.1 mi · 2,532 people · home $278,800
- Norwich, VT5.2 mi · 3,612 people · home $637,500
- Lebanon, NH5.4 mi · 14,282 people · home $385,400
- Hartford, VT6.5 mi · 10,686 people · home $304,500
- Thetford, VT8.7 mi · 2,775 people · home $329,500
- Enfield, NH10.8 mi · 4,465 people · home $390,800
Hanover questions
Is Hanover, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hanover scores better for retirees than 40% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 1%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.8).
How much does a house cost in Hanover?
The median owner-occupied home in Hanover is valued at $842,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $153,281, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $2,254 a month.
What is the weather like in Hanover?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 13.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 60.6 inches of snow.
Does Hanover get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hanover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)