Compare towns
Canaan vs Hampton Falls vs Hampton vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Canaan | Hampton Falls | Hampton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,328Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.