Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Windham 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Windham | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
8,479 |
16,038Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
62.7% 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Windham and Bow 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 |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% 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 |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Windham School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.