Compare towns
Durham vs Center Harbor vs Mont Vernon
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 youngest population (median age 20.1).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Center Harbor | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
955Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school 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.