What stands out worked out from the figures below

Claremont has the oldest population (median age 42.6).

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	Claremont	Durham
People
Population	13,078Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±3.5Highest about the NH average	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	20.8%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,096±$8kLowest 40% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,146±$83Lowest 23% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±12.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	8.6%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#103 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Claremont School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Stevens High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.3Lowest
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.