Compare towns
Durham vs Bow vs South Hampton vs Plymouth
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 the most people working from home (22.7%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | South Hampton | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,335 |
984Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| South Hampton 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Bow and South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | South Hampton School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.