Compare towns
Hanover vs Eliot vs Plainfield 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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Eliot | Plainfield | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
7,146 |
2,522Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainfield 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | 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 | 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.