What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Hampden
People
Population	11,685Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Hampden 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Hanover High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.