Compare towns
Durham vs Newington vs Keene vs Durham
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Newington | Keene | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
939Lowest |
22,939Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Newington and Keene 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% |
15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Keene 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Keene 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Newington 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 24% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Newington 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 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Newington School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.