Compare towns
Durham vs Deerfield 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Deerfield | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,932Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Deerfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and Deerfield 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 |
$1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Deerfield and Barnstead 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 |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barnstead 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Deerfield 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.