Compare towns
Durham vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
6,571Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Durham 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| 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±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
| 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 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.