Compare towns
Bow vs Durham vs Norwich vs Brookline
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).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Norwich | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Bow 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%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest 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% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Brookline 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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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.