Compare towns
Hanover vs Hampton vs Seabrook Beach
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 highest household income ($153k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,426Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Hanover 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97k 109% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover 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 |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| Hanover and Seabrook Beach 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| 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.