Compare towns
Hanover vs Pelham vs Bow vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Pelham | Bow | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
14,449Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% 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±$61k 105% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Hanover 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 51% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover 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 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Pelham 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Pelham School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Pelham High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
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.