Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Henniker
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 kids (17% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Henniker has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Ogunquit | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1 20% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Henniker 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%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% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Henniker 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 History | 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.