Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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 | Exeter | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
16,151 |
11,685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% 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 | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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 | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.