Compare towns
Durham vs South Hampton vs Exeter 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).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | South Hampton | Exeter | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
984Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.