What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Ashby
People
Population	15,080Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Durham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Durham and Ashby 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.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Oyster River High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	None yet

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.