Compare towns
Durham vs Wilder vs Bow
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,087Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above 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 |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wilder 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.