Compare towns
Hanover vs North Hampton vs Wolfeboro
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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most affordable homes ($547k median).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
4,543Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and North 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and North Hampton 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 |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and North Hampton 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | North Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.