Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Hanover vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Hanover | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
16,426Highest |
11,685 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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 | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.