Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Bedford 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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Bedford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
8,479 |
23,746Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Bedford 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Dunbarton 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Hanover and Bedford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Bedford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.