Compare towns
Hanover vs Hampton vs Hampton 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 ($170k).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Hampton | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,101 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest 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% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.