Compare towns
Bedford vs Bow vs Durham vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Bedford | Bow | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
8,335 |
10,681 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Bedford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bedford School District | Bow School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.