Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hanover 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 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.