Compare towns
Madbury vs Bow vs Bedford vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Madbury | Bow | Bedford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bedford and Madbury 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 |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.