Compare towns
Hampton vs Lee vs Hanover 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).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Lee | Hanover | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
4,576 |
11,685 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above 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 |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.