Compare towns
Bow vs Durham vs Milford vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Milford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,080 |
16,337Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$484,100±$33k 20% 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 | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Milford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dunbarton 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.