Compare towns
Hanover vs Stratham vs South Berwick 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Stratham | South Berwick | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
7,754 |
7,670Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.