Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs Portsmouth 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Portsmouth | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% 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% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.