Compare towns
Marlow vs Durham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Marlow | Durham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
| Washington and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Washington 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 | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.