Compare towns
Enfield vs Durham vs Bow vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Enfield | Durham | Bow | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.