Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Pelham
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 the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Hanover has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% 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 |
$552,600±$27kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hanover 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.