Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Seabrook Beach
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 most affordable homes ($504k median).
Hanover has the most kids (14.4% under 18).
Seabrook Beach has the oldest population (median age 62).
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 | Hanover | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| Hanover and Seabrook Beach 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.