Compare towns
Hanover vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97k 153% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 60% above U.S. |
— | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Wells High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
U.S. 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.