Compare towns
Hanover vs North Hampton vs Bedford
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | North Hampton | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,543Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and North 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Bedford 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | North Hampton School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.