Compare towns
Durham vs Durham vs Hartford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Durham | Hartford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Lowest |
15,080 |
10,736 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Durham 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 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Durham and Keene 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.