Compare towns
Durham vs Madbury vs Chichester
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Madbury | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Madbury 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Chichester 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% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chichester and Madbury 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$409,300±$26kLowest 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±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Chichester 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,189Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older 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 |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | — | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Chichester 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 |
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.