Compare towns
Hanover vs Plymouth vs Bow vs Stratham
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Plymouth | Bow | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
4,969Lowest |
8,335 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
| Stratham 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| 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 50% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #47 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 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.