Compare towns
Durham vs Danbury vs Franconia
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).
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Danbury | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,451 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Danbury 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% |
17.2%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Danbury and Franconia 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% |
23.7%±5 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Durham and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
| Franconia 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 4% below NH |
$1,281±$390Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
| Durham and Danbury 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 |
$3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±36.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 minHighest 35% above NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Danbury 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 | Newfound Area School District | Lafayette Regional 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.