Compare towns
South Hampton vs Hanover vs Dublin vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | South Hampton | Hanover | Dublin | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
8,479Highest |
1,688 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Dublin and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 | $9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,165 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.