Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Center Harbor
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Exeter | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Center Harbor 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Durham and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.