Compare towns
Hanover vs Stratham vs Canaan 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 youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Stratham | Canaan | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
7,754 |
3,811Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Canaan and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Canaan 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.