Compare towns
Hanover vs Rollinsford vs South Hampton vs Durham
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Rollinsford | South Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,626 |
984Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| South Hampton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Hanover 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Hanover and South 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rollinsford School District | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.