Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow vs Hanover vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Atkinson | Bow | Hanover | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,335 |
8,479Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above 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 | $555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.