Compare towns
Hanover vs Windham vs Bedford vs Bow
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Windham | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,038 |
23,746Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Bedford 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$167,418±$12kLowest 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow 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 |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Windham High School | Bedford High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.