Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hanover vs Bow vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Wolfeboro | Hanover | Bow | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
8,479Highest |
8,335 |
4,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
| Enfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below 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 | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.