Compare towns
Durham vs Canterbury vs Lyndeborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Canterbury has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Canterbury | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,353 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Canterbury 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% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Lyndeborough 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% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Lyndeborough 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 NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 25% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Canterbury and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Durham 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% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 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.