Compare towns
Canaan 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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Hampton 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below 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% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%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 |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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 School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | 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 |
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.