Compare towns
Bow vs Derry vs Dover
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 the highest household income ($173k).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Derry | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
21,339 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Derry 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% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Dover 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 |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,278Lowest 9% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Dover 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.7Lowest |
| 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.