Compare towns
Durham vs Holderness vs Madbury vs Wilmot
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Madbury | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
1,917 |
2,203 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Wilmot 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% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Madbury and Wilmot 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| 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±$211 13% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Holderness 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 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Wilmot 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilmot 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.