Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Madbury vs White River Junction
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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Exeter | Madbury | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
2,203Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Madbury 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 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Durham and Madbury 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Madbury 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.