Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Newington
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 the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hampton Falls has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Eliot | Hampton Falls | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
7,146 |
2,328 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.