Compare towns
Hanson vs Lee 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
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hanson | Lee | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
4,576Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lee and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Bow 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.