Compare towns
South Hampton vs Hanover vs Dover
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 the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | South Hampton | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Dover 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Dover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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 | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above 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 |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.