Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Milford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Hanover | Lyme | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.