Compare towns
Auburn vs Bow vs Hanover vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Auburn | Bow | Hanover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,335 |
8,479Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19kLowest 44% 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 | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bow School District | — | Chester 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.