Compare towns
Bow vs Enfield vs Hanover vs Plainfield
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%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Bow | Enfield | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,994Lowest |
11,685Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
58.1±20Highest 34% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Enfield and Bow 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% |
11.5%±8.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Plainfield 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% |
31.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.5%±7.3 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$99,330±$21kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% 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 |
$277,900±$56kLowest 31% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$4,779Lowest 28% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.6%±17.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bow 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% |
23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% 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 |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 19% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±9.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.