Compare towns
Hampton vs Hanover vs Hanover vs Stratham
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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hanover | Hanover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,479 |
11,685 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
88.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.