Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Durham vs Bow vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Newbury has the most affordable homes ($463k 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 | Hampton Falls | Durham | Bow | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
2,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
| Newbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
53%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$116,477±$18kLowest 18% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$463,400±$36kLowest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.