Compare towns
Hanover vs Meredith vs Hampton Beach 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).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Meredith | Hampton Beach | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,758 |
2,605Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% 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 |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton Beach 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.