Compare towns
Bow vs Dorset vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Bow | Dorset | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
2,092Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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 → |
U.S. 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.