Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Eliot | Hanover | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
8,479Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| 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 | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.