Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Hanover vs South Berwick vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rollinsford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Rollinsford | Hanover | South Berwick | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626Lowest |
11,685Highest |
3,381 |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.