Compare towns

Hanover vs Berwick vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureHanoverBerwickBow
People
Population
11,685Highest
8,175Lowest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
Bow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36k
110% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #101 of 133 in ME #26 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Bow School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.