Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton vs Durham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
10,101Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Durham 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| 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±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 50% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.