Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Durham vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Dunbarton | Durham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
15,080Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Durham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Durham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Pembroke 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.