Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Strafford
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).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
11,685Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Strafford 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hanover 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.