Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs Exeter 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).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Lee | Exeter | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 59 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.