Compare towns
Durham vs Auburn vs Townsend
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Auburn | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,119Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Townsend 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% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Auburn 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% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Auburn 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% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Townsend 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. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Townsend 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.