Compare towns
Durham vs Canterbury vs Durham vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Canterbury | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,353 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Canterbury and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Shaker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| 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 | 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.