Compare towns
Durham vs Newfields vs Townsend 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Newfields | Townsend | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,023Lowest |
9,100 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Newfields School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.