Compare towns
Alton vs Durham 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
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Alton | Durham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
10,681 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Alton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.