Compare towns
Hanover vs Essex Junction vs Windham 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Essex Junction | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,803 |
16,038Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Bow 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% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Essex High School | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
12.8Highest |
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.