Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Madbury
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Portsmouth | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
10,736 |
22,545Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above 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±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Portsmouth 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.