Compare towns
Hampton vs Bow vs Dover vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Hampton | Bow | Dover | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
8,335Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
— |
| 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.