Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs South 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 the most renters (46.4% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 Falls | South Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,328 |
984Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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 |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton Falls School District | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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 | 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.