Compare towns
Hanover vs Bow vs Hanover vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Bow | Hanover | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
8,335Lowest |
8,479 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26kLowest 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% 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 | $824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bow School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Bow High School | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.