Compare towns
Madbury vs Bow vs Hanover vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Madbury | Bow | Hanover | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
8,335 |
8,479Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | — | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → |
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.