Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Windham vs Madbury
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).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Newmarket | Windham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
9,463 |
16,038Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Newmarket and Windham 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
16.1%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newmarket and Windham 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Windham and Madbury 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 |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Windham 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Newmarket School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.