Compare towns
Durham vs Bow vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,335Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Bow and Durham 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.