Compare towns
Durham vs Bow vs Hanover vs Newmarket
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).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Bow | Hanover | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,479 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Bow and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | — | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School | — | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.8Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.