Compare towns
Bow vs Enfield vs Hanover vs Newington
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
4,475 |
11,685Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Enfield and Newington 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% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Newington 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% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% 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 |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington 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% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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.