Compare towns
Hanover vs South Hampton vs Canaan
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 people working from home (26.4%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | South Hampton | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
984Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Canaan 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Canaan 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | South Hampton School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.