Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Keene 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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 | Keene | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
2,328Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 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%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest 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% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Keene School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Keene High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 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.