Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Hanover vs Hopkinton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Norwich | Hanover | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
8,479Highest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopkinton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$137,477±$21kLowest 70% 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±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Hopkinton 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 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | — | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.