Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
11,685Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bow 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 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 |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Hanover High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.