Compare towns
Bartlett vs Bow vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Bartlett | Bow | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,281Lowest |
8,335 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kLowest 8% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bartlett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.