Compare towns
Hanover vs Canaan vs Bow vs Durham
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 ($825k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Canaan | Bow | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
3,811Lowest |
8,335 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Canaan 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% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Canaan 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 NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 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 | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bow High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.