Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Durham vs Hanover vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Hanover | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,479 |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,136±$233 43% above NH |
| Hanover and Canterbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.