What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Durham
People
Population	7,392Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Lowest 16% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#92 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.