Compare towns

Danville vs Durham vs Barnstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danville has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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.

MeasureDanvilleDurhamBarnstead
People
Population
4,531Lowest
10,681Highest
4,994
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42±4
3% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
42.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
Barnstead and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±7Highest
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Barnstead and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,104±$21kHighest
16% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
Danville and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$437,600±$26k
9% above NH
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
Durham and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,144±$867Highest
44% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,504
28% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
70.2%±61.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Danville and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
30% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
31 min
16% above NH
Work from home
13.1%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Durham and Danville 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 #40 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District — Barnstead School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.