Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Hampton Beach | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,605Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.