Compare towns
Durham vs Rollinsford 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).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | Rollinsford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,626Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Rollinsford 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% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Bow 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Rollinsford 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rollinsford 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.