Compare towns
Hanover vs Hampton Falls vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k 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 | Hanover | Hampton Falls | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
2,328 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% 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 | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Hampton Falls School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.