Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% 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 | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below 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 | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.