Compare towns
Windham vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Windham | Hanover | Hampton Falls | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
8,479 |
2,328Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26kLowest 55% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% 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 | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Hampton Falls School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | 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.