Compare towns

Durham vs St. Albans 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%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureDurhamSt. AlbansDurham
People
Population
10,681
6,954Lowest
15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
38.7±2Highest
about the U.S. average
20.8±0.3
47% below U.S.
Kids under 18
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
St. Albans and Durham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%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%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
Durham 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
50% above U.S.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below U.S.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
Durham 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 221% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% 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%
51.8%±11.8Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #46 of 70 in VT #9 of 120 in NH
School district — Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town — Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.