Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Durham vs Eaton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most kids (11.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Center Harbor | Durham | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
10,681Highest |
501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
59.6±14 38% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.6%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Center Harbor and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
41.3%±15.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Eaton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
51.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$377,300±$62kLowest 6% below NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.4%±12.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Eaton 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.