Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Exeter 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 Falls | Hanover | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% 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 |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.