Compare towns
Durham vs Castleton vs Durham vs Lee
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Castleton | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,453Lowest |
10,681 |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Lee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Castleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
— |
| Durham 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 | 10 photos → |
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.