Compare towns
North Hampton vs Hanover vs Bow vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | North Hampton | Hanover | Bow | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
8,479Highest |
8,335 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% 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 | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$842,600±$97k 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rye and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Bow School District | Rye 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 | 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.