Compare towns
Hanover vs Durham vs Lebanon 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Durham | Lebanon | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
15,080Highest |
14,999 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Lebanon 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% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.