Compare towns

Bow vs Durham vs White River Junction vs Windham

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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureBowDurhamWhite River JunctionWindham
People
Population
8,335
15,080
3,364Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
Bow and Windham 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%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Windham 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
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%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Windham and Bow 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±$41k
52% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% 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%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Windham 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%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 min
27% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Oyster River Coop School District — Windham School District
High school in town Bow High School Oyster River High School — Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.3Lowest
—
12.8Highest
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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.