Because it does well by almost any measure. Hanover earns an A, 15th of 125 graded towns in New Hampshire. It is among the healthiest towns in the country on CDC estimates, its schools rank ahead of 98% of New Hampshire towns, and it reports less crime per resident than 89% of U.S. towns. The exception is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $998K for a typical one and 12 times the Lebanon area’s $83K median household income. 88% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Hanover, where New Hampshire’s towns sit at 39% and U.S. towns at 29%. No town in New Hampshire scores higher than Hanover on walkability. Hanover is home to Dartmouth College.

StrongestA⁺Health A⁺Schools A⁺WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Cost of living

What makes Hanover stand out

Where Hanover beats most towns.

The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Baker Library, Dartmouth College

HistoryA

Settled in 1761

3 places on the National Register

A history going back 265 years.

32 measures vs. New Hampshire

20 better9 too close to call3 worse

Widest gap	Hanover	NH
Fewer smokers	6.2%	10.8%

HealthA⁺

Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns

Beats NH on 20 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 3

Less healthyHealthier

CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.

Dresden School District

School	Grades	Students
Bernice A. Ray School	K–5	463
The Montessori Children's School	PK–K	44
Frances C. Richmond School	6–8	369

SchoolsA⁺

#1 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade for schools

NCES · EDFacts.

The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Baker Library, Dartmouth College · National Register of Historic Places

Hanover’s story

265 years in pictures

The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Baker Library, Dartmouth College is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier.

Census counts: 1,380 in 1790, a low of 1,380 in 1790, 11,870 in 2020. The archive holds 36 old photos and papers going back to 1834 and 3 maps from 1906 on.

3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1761Hanover is settled

Explore the history →

How Hanover grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Hampshire), ordered by how far Hanover is from typical.

How grading works

Cost of livingD⁻Open →HealthAmong the healthiest U.S. towns; Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital 6.8 miles awayA⁺Open →SchoolsA⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.1 of 20; 9.9% of households have no car; 13% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁺Open →SafetyAOpen →Jobs & income$170K median household incomeBOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors31% conserved landA⁺Open →History3 places on the National Register; 56 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life7.4 library visits per resident; 11.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

ClimateSnowy winters, 80° summer afternoons, 61″ of snow–Open →Housing market61 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 28.7–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Killington Resort and 28 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Hanover. Close and well known come first.

All 63 attractions →

31 mi Ski areaKillington Resort184 runs · 3,031 ft vertical

in town MuseumHood Museum of Art

39 mi Ski areaCannon Mountain104 runs · 2,201 ft vertical 6 mi Ski areaDartmouth Skiway48 runs · 991 ft vertical

35 mi Ski areaOkemo Mountain119 runs · 2,165 ft vertical

38 mi State parkFranconia Notch State Park

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Killington Resort: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hood Museum of Art: Daderot, CC0 · Cannon Mountain: Mikespenard at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Okemo Mountain: Jrclark (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Franconia Notch State Park: Stephen Sokolowski, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Hanover: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Hanover, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerNew Hampshire Elec Coop24.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterHanover Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet9 providers93% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpDrop-off onlyNo curbside pickup: you take it to the drop-offTown site

SchoolsDresden School District Hanover School District2 districts serve Hanover; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

Register to voteIn personNew Hampshire has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail only in special circumstances (received 13 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereTown Clerk of HanoverThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025

ZIP codes03755, 0375003755 92% · 03750 8%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Hanover.

Hanover is the healthiest town in New Hampshire, is shaped by its college students and has schools in the top 5% of New Hampshire.

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

Hanover earns a D− for cost of living

At 12 years of the Lebanon area’s $83K median household income, the typical home (about $998K) costs more against local pay than in any other New Hampshire town; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. Its typical home is the priciest on its borders; Lyme is next at $650K.

The median rent in Hanover is $2,253 a month. Typical home values rose 7.3% in the year to September 2026.

$998KZillow home value

	Hanover	New Hampshire towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$2,253 a month	$1,382 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	74%	82%	73%

Typical home value

Hanover$998K

New Hampshire$511K

Market temperature

days on market

98.5%

sale-to-list price

+7.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageHanover’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 7.3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.9 years of income Rents$2,253 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsA⁺

Hanover earns an A+ for schools

Its A+ ranks #1 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade for schools. Its A+ is the best School Grade on its borders; Lyme (A) is next.

Its public schools are run by the Dresden School District. Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Hanover High School, with 674 students.

98%of NH districts it outscoresA⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Bernice A. Ray SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5	Grades K–5	463	A⁺
Hanover High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	674	A⁺
Frances C. Richmond SchoolTop results in townGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	369	A⁺

Full pageHanover’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsDresden School District Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 3 graded neighbors Every school4 schools · Hanover High School Questions“Are Hanover’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NH on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsA⁺

Hanover has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation

Its 9,817 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 89% of New Hampshire towns.

143 miles of trail in 47 parks and preserves. Hanover’s trail density is 2.9 miles per square mile. Appalachian National Scenic Trail, at 2,406 acres with 20 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#5for trails in NH

30.8%

conserved · 9,817 of 31,884 acres

143 mi

of trails · 2.9 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Appalachian National Scenic Trail	20 mi	2,406
2. Trescott Water Supply Lands	17.1 mi	1,166
3. Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area	7 mi	509

Full pageHanover’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map143 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk20 miles of trail · Appalachian National Scenic Trail Conserved land30.8% conserved · 9,817 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Hanover?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

HealthA⁺

Hanover stands out in New Hampshire and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

It is the healthiest of the 126 New Hampshire towns we grade on the CDC estimates behind the Health Grade. Its widest gap with New Hampshire is smoking: 6.2% of its 6,231 adults smoke cigarettes, against 10.8% statewide.

21% of adults have obesity in Hanover. Only 3 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Hanover. 24% of adults have high blood pressure in Hanover.

99%healthier than U.S. townsA⁺Health Grade

	Hanover	New Hampshire towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	21%	32%	35%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	24%	34%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	8.4%	12%	14%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	27%	33%	36%

32 measures vs. New Hampshire

20 better9 too close to call3 worse

What stands out	Hanover	NH
Fewer smokers	6.2%	10.8%
Fewer adults with COPD	3.7%	6.2%
Fewer adults getting a yearly checkup	73%	77.8%

Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital

In Lebanon · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

99th

percentile among NH towns

Full pageHanover’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearbyMary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NH on 20 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B

The median household income in Hanover is higher than in the typical New Hampshire or U.S. town

7,455 jobs are based in Hanover, 2.1 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here fell from 9,894 in 2013 to 7,455.

Among 126 New Hampshire towns, just 3 have a higher median household income than Hanover. 5.6% of Hanover residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Hanover has lost 2,439 jobs, to 7,455 in 2023.

34%work in town

	Hanover	New Hampshire towns	U.S. towns
Median household income	$170,000	$103,000	$80,000
Working residents who work in town	34%	9.8%	8%
Work from home	26%	16%	11%
Average trip to work	20 minutes	28 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Hanover34%

Lebanon27%

Hartford3%

Manchester3%

Nashua1%

5 mi

median commute distance

7,455

jobs based in Hanover

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 97% of U.S. towns

Full pageHanover’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here7,455 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work34% work in Hanover Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 5 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyA

Hanover earns an A for safety

Reported crimes fell from 69 to 55 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.

Only 10 of the 125 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower violent crime rate than Hanover. New Hampshire has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Hanover sits closer to the middle.

89%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade

	Hanover	New Hampshire towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.2 per 1,000 residents	0.7	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	4.4 per 1,000 residents	4.5	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Hanover0.2

New Hampshire1.2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Hanover4.4

New Hampshire8.3

U.S.15.5

89th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

69th

percentile among NH towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageHanover’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 3 graded neighbors Questions“Is Hanover, NH safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

Hanover has snowy winters and pleasant summers

The Hanover weather station, 5 miles away, records that 61 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 76% of New Hampshire places with climate records.

Hanover has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Only 9 of the 126 New Hampshire towns we compare have a lower July high than Hanover.

61″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter12–31°

Spring31–54°

Summer54–78°

Fall37–58°

Oct 6

typical first frost

May 9

typical last frost

+1.8°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageHanover’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 80°, January lows 9°Rain & snow61″ of snow a winter · 42 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C⁺

Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Hanover

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 2011, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hanover.

54risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland flooding

paid flood claims since 2011

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageHanover’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims4 paid flood claims · Since 2011 Past disasters14 federal disasters · Paid out in Hanover Get ready4.3 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Hanover

20pages on Hanover

The big questions

SchoolsA⁺Beat 98% of NH districts · 4 schools SafetyA0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA⁺Better than NH on 20 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$998K typical home · up 7.3% in a year Work & commuteB$170K median household income · 7,455 jobs here Natural hazardsC⁺FEMA risk higher than 54% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁺143 mi of trails · 31% conserved land PlacesAttractions63 nearby · Hood Museum of Art under 1 mi LibraryA7.4 library visits per resident CollegesDartmouth College, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1761 · 3 on the National Register Famous people56 born in Hanover Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 85 residents Climate80° summer highs · 61″ of snow

Day to day

News8 recent stories about Hanover WeatherHandbookZIP code 03755 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Hanover

Dartmouth CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · HanoverIn town$68,268 tuition

College town 37 of every 100 Hanover residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Hampshire.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

143 miles of trails in Hanover

30.8% of the town is conserved land, across 47 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Hanover

ConservedTrails

Appalachian National Scenic Trail20 mi of trails · 2,406 acres

Directions

Trescott Water Supply Lands17.1 mi of trails · 1,166 acres

Directions

Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area7 mi of trails · 509 acres

Directions

Landmarks

3 places in Hanover on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

The Epic of American Civilization Murals, Baker Library, Dartmouth CollegeBuilt 1930 · National Historic Landmark

Hanover Town Library

Great Hollow Road Stone Arch Bridge

Famous people from Hanover

56 notable people were born in Hanover.

See all 56 →

Victor AmbrosAmerican developmental biologist · born 1953

John PerkinsAmerican author · born 1945

Charlie ClouserAmerican musician · born 1963

Hannah KearneyFreestyle skier · born 1986

Charles Augustus YoungAmerican astronomer · 1834–1908

Laura BridgmanAmerican deaf-blind teacher and poet · 1829–1889

About Hanover

Town in the United States

Official town website ↗

Hanover is a town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, and Hanover High School. The Appalachian Trail crosses the town, connecting with a number of trails and nature preserves. Most of the population resides in the Hanover census-designated place (CDP)—the main village of the town. Located at the junctions of New Hampshire routes 10, 10A, and 120, the Hanover CDP recorded a population of 9,078 people at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Leban…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1761
Area: 50 sq mi
Elevation: 528 ft
ZIP code: 03755

Hanover’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Hanover.

Explore the map →

NorwichLebanonLymeCanaanHanover

Norwich

Visit

Lebanon

SW · 27% of Hanover workers commute here

Visit

Lyme

Visit

Canaan

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	NH rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Hanover	#15	A	D⁻	A	A⁺	A⁺
Lebanon	#62	B⁺	D	B⁻	B⁺	A⁺
Lyme	—	—	D	A⁺	A	A
Canaan	#96	C⁺	C⁺	B⁺	B⁻	B⁺

Lyme has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Compare Hanover with a neighbor →

Questions about Hanover

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Hanover, NH a good place to live?

Yes, by almost any measure. Hanover grades A overall, better than 93% of U.S. towns and #15 of 125 in New Hampshire. It grades A+ for health, A for safety and A+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Hanover, NH safe?

Yes, by national standards. New Hampshire has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Hanover sits nearer the middle.

Is Hanover, NH expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.

What is Hanover, NH known for?

56 notable people were born here, including Victor Ambros and John Perkins.

Post to Hanover

Check your email

HanoverNH

Why does Hanover grade so well?

What makes Hanover stand out

265 years in pictures

How Hanover grades

Killington Resort and 28 more within 40 miles

Moving to Hanover: who provides what

The data

Hanover earns a D− for cost of living

Typical home value

Hanover earns an A+ for schools

Hanover has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation

Hanover stands out in New Hampshire and nationally, with fewer of its adults who have obesity

The median household income in Hanover is higher than in the typical New Hampshire or U.S. town

Where working residents work

Hanover earns an A for safety

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Hanover has snowy winters and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Hanover

Everything we know about Hanover

Colleges nearby

143 miles of trails in Hanover

Landmarks

Famous people from Hanover

About Hanover

Hanover’s neighbors

Questions about Hanover