Compare towns

Hanover vs Hampton 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

Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureHanoverHamptonNorth Hampton
People
Population
8,479
16,426Highest
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
21.8±0.3Lowest
50% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above 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
9.8%±2.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
North Hampton and Hampton 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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
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+
89.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
49.8%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,281±$26kHighest
55% above NH
$95,233±$9kLowest
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
$842,600±$97kHighest
109% above NH
$550,200±$39kLowest
37% above NH
$670,400±$61k
67% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,254±$249Highest
51% above NH
$1,628±$94Lowest
9% above NH
$1,805±$106
21% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$8,529
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72%±17.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4
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
8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
2.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
91.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
Work from home
26.7%±6Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
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 #1 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH
School district — Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District North Hampton School District
High school in town — Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1
—
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.