Compare towns
Durham vs Ashland vs Hanover 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 20.8).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Ashland | Hanover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,183Lowest |
11,685 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Ashland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.