Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Bow vs Hanover vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Bow | Hanover | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
8,335 |
8,479Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and North Hampton 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Bow School District | — | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.