Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Henniker 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).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Exeter | Henniker | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,151Highest |
6,197Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Bow 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Henniker School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.