Compare towns
Durham vs Barnet vs Madbury
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).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Barnet | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,855Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Barnet 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% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham 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. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Barnet 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Madbury 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.