Compare towns
Hanover vs Bow vs Hopkinton
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 most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hanover | Bow | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
8,335 |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hopkinton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Hanover 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% |
58.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$137,477±$21kLowest 39% above 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 | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | 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 |
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.