Compare towns
Hampton vs Hanover vs Dover vs North 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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Hanover | Dover | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton and North Hampton 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and North 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Hanover and North Hampton 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and North 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.