Compare towns
Brentwood vs Durham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Brentwood | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.