Compare towns
Stratham vs Lyme vs Hanover 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
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Stratham | Lyme | Hanover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
1,710Lowest |
11,685Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.