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