Compare towns
Brookline vs Dover vs Hanover vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Brookline | Dover | Hanover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,685 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.