Compare towns

Durham vs Durham vs Hanover vs Newmarket

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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.

MeasureDurhamDurhamHanoverNewmarket
People
Population
10,681
15,080Highest
11,685
9,463Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
20.8±0.3
52% below NH
28.7±5.1
34% below NH
41.2±1.9Highest
5% below NH
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Newmarket and Hanover 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%
11.5%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Hanover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
49.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$100,845±$13kLowest
about the NH average
Hanover 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±$45k
24% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$455,000±$22kLowest
13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,734Lowest
31% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
4.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
73.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
19 min
27% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
28 minHighest
6% above NH
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Hanover 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 #1 of 120 in NH #39 of 120 in NH
School district — Oyster River Coop School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newmarket School District
High school in town — Oyster River High School Hanover High School Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.7
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.