Compare towns

Hampton vs Seabrook vs Hanover

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).
Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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.

MeasureHamptonSeabrookHanover
People
Population
16,426Highest
8,427Lowest
11,685
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
-3.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
54±1.9
25% above NH
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
Hampton and Seabrook 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%
14.8%±3.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
Seabrook and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
31.5%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Seabrook 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%
NH: 40.6%
27.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9k
4% below NH
$84,349±$15kLowest
15% below NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
$443,500±$40kLowest
10% above NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,542±$174Lowest
3% above NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813
about the NH average
$5,785Lowest
13% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±10Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
68.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
3% below NH
21 min
22% below NH
20 minLowest
27% below NH
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
10.5%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and 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 #114 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Seabrook School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School None in town Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.