Compare towns
Hanover vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
3,216Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lancaster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bow 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | 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 |
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.