Compare towns

Hanover vs Hampton Beach vs 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 highest household income ($170k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most homeowners (73.8%).
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.

MeasureHanoverHampton BeachHampton
People
Population
11,685
2,605Lowest
16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
55.8±2.1
29% above NH
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3
NH: 18.2%
Hanover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Beach and Hampton 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%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$82,557±$17kLowest
17% below NH
$95,233±$9k
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$508,900±$76kLowest
26% above NH
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,375±$130Lowest
8% below NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,115Lowest
8% below NH
$6,813
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1978Highest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
27% below NH
25 min
5% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
Work from home
26.4%±5
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton 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 Dresden School District · Hanover School District — Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town Hanover High School — Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
—
10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.