Compare towns
Bow vs Durham vs Dorset
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Durham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,080Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Lowest 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
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.