Compare towns

Hanover vs Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Windham

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 most people working from home (26.4%).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($498k median).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureHanoverDurhamHampton FallsWindham
People
Population
11,685
10,681
2,328Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1
34% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
41.1±2.9
5% below NH
Hampton Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.1%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$112,070±$25kLowest
13% above NH
$166,157±$14k
68% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$498,000±$45kLowest
24% above NH
$772,600±$76k
92% above NH
$723,300±$50k
80% 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
$2,253±$217
51% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,852±$475
24% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
27% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
31 min
15% above NH
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Windham 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 #9 of 120 in NH — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District — Hampton Falls School District Windham School District
High school in town Hanover High School — None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
— —
12.8Highest
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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.