Compare towns
Danby vs Durham vs Wells
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 oldest population (median age 52.6).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest 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% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Danby 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.