Compare towns
South Hampton vs Hanover vs Durham vs East Kingston
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Durham | East Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
11,685 |
15,080Highest |
2,311 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
| East Kingston 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%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Hanover 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% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above 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 |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 | $9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,604 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and East Kingston 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | East Kingston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 9 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.