Compare towns
Durham vs Ashland vs White River Junction
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 the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,183Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Durham and White River Junction 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. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | — |
| 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 | 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.