Compare towns
Nottingham vs Durham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Nottingham | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Nottingham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Nottingham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham 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 |
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.