Compare towns
Ashland vs Hanover vs Bow vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Hanover | Bow | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
8,479Highest |
8,335 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Ashland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.