Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Bedford vs Suncook
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 the oldest population (median age 45).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
8,479 |
23,746Highest |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
| Bedford 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow 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% |
31.4%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% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below 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 |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% 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 |
$6,975Lowest 5% 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% |
48.2%±21.7 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Bedford School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Bedford High School | — |
| 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.