Compare towns
Hanover vs Concord vs Durham 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 ($825k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Concord | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
44,375Highest |
15,080 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Concord 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% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Concord 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% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above 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 | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Concord High School | Oyster River High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.3 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.