Compare towns
Durham vs Brookline vs Suncook
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Brookline | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,736 |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
| Brookline and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Brookline 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Suncook 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline 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 |
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.