Compare towns
Durham vs Bethlehem vs Henniker
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Bethlehem | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,537Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Henniker 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% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 minHighest 24% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.