Compare towns
Berwick vs Bow vs Hanover vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Bow has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Berwick | Bow | Hanover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
8,335 |
11,685 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Hanover High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.