Compare towns
Hanover vs Seabrook Beach vs Stratham
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).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,001Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$655,400±$36kLowest 63% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,725±$575Lowest 16% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hanover 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town |
| 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.