Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs White River Junction vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | White River Junction | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
11,685Highest |
3,364 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Dunbarton 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.