Compare towns
Hampton vs Hanover vs Brookline vs Hampton Falls
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 28.7).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Hanover | Brookline | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,685 |
5,736 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Brookline 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±$39k 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% 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 | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Brookline School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | None in town | 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.