Compare towns
Durham vs Lincoln vs Durham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lincoln has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Lincoln | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
1,394Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| 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±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
| Durham 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,100Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Lincoln 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 | — | Lincoln Town School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.