Compare towns
Durham vs Bedford 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 20.8).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Durham | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
23,746Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.