Compare towns
Hanover vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,101Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% 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. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Wayne 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 |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 38 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.