Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton vs Hanover vs Dunbarton
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Hampton | Hanover | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
16,426Highest |
11,685 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
— |
| 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.