Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Durham vs New Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Durham | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Hampton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% 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 | — | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.