Compare towns
Durham vs Mason 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Mason | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
1,451Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Mason 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mason School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.