Compare towns
Bow vs Concord vs Durham 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
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Bow | Concord | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
44,375Highest |
15,080 |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
| Bow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 14% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Concord High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.