The CDP is in the southwestern corner of the town of Hanover, bordered to the south by the city of Lebanon and to the west by the Connecticut River, which forms the New Hampshire–Vermont boundary.

To the north the CDP extends upriver as far as the outlet of Storrs Pond.

The eastern border of the CDP follows the outlet brook upstream to Storrs Pond, then continues up Camp Brook and Reservoir Road to Grasse Road at the outlet of the Lower Hanover Reservoir.

Route 10A (West Wheelock Street) leaves Route 10 at the town center and leads west across Ledyard Bridge 1 mile (1.6 km) to Interstate 91 in Norwich, Vermont.

[4] The population of the Hanover CDP is strongly influenced by the presence of Dartmouth students living in dormitories and in off-campus housing.

3,861 people in the CDP lived in group quarters, including dormitories or nursing homes, rather than households.