Compare towns
Hanover vs Derry vs Lyndeborough 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).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Derry | Lyndeborough | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±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 | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.