Compare towns
Durham vs Holderness vs Exeter vs Madbury
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 youngest population (median age 20.1).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Holderness | Exeter | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
1,917Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| 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±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Exeter 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Holderness School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.