Compare towns
Hampton vs Hanover vs Stratham vs Hampton
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($545k median).
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 | Stratham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,479 |
7,754Lowest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$545,300±$63kLowest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.