Compare towns

Bow vs Durham vs Henniker vs Norwich

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 the highest household income ($173k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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.

MeasureBowDurhamHennikerNorwich
People
Population
8,335
15,080Highest
6,197
3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
31.1±6.1
20% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
Bow and Norwich 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%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
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%
27%±6.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$95,206±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
$356,700±$49kLowest
7% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
Bow and Norwich 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.
$8,877Lowest
185% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Henniker 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%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
27% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Norwich 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 #56 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Bow School District Oyster River Coop School District Henniker School District Norwich School District
High school in town Bow High School Oyster River High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.3Lowest
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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.