Compare towns
Danby vs Durham vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Danby | Durham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Durham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Oyster River Coop School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.