Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow vs Hanover vs Wolfeboro
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 most homeowners (92.6%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k 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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
8,335 |
8,479Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%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 |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% 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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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 | $555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest 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 |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.