Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Durham vs Concord
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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Norwich | Durham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
15,080 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.7±1.3 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% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,227Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.