Compare towns
Hanover vs Seabrook Beach vs Windham 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
Seabrook Beach has the oldest population (median age 62).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k 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 | Seabrook Beach | Windham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
1,001Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover 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 |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% 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±$575 16% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%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 |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | Windham High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.