Compare towns
Hanover vs Ogunquit vs Bow vs Stratham
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Bow | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,335 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Stratham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% 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±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.