Compare towns
Bow vs Ferrisburgh vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Ferrisburgh has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
2,661Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ferrisburgh and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,435±$173Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,120Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.