Compare towns
Durham vs Bellows Falls vs Johnson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bellows Falls has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Bellows Falls | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,891Lowest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5 21% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Johnson 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% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Johnson 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.