Compare towns
Harrisville vs Bow vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hancock has the most renters (14.4% rent).
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 | Harrisville | Bow | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 885Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,036±$13k 4% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$48kLowest 7% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
| Harrisville and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hancock 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harrisville School District | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.