What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Hanover
People
Population	7,896Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.