Compare towns
Andover vs Durham vs Salisbury vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Andover | Durham | Salisbury | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,135 |
15,080Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Durham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Salisbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.