Compare towns
Chatham vs Durham vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Chatham | Durham | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
15,080Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Stow 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.