Compare towns
Hanover vs Bow vs Bedford vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hanover | Bow | Bedford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
8,335Lowest |
23,746Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Hanover and Bedford 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Bedford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.