Compare towns
Hanover vs Middlesex vs Durham 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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Middlesex | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
1,943Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Hanover 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| 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 148% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.