Compare towns
Milford vs Durham vs Bow vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k 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 | Milford | Durham | Bow | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
15,080 |
8,335Lowest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
36.7±3.7 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Milford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% 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 | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
| Milford and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Oyster River High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
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.