Compare towns
Durham vs Pembroke vs South Hampton
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).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Pembroke | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
7,438 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and South Hampton 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| South Hampton and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Pembroke School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | — | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.