Compare towns
Durham vs Deerfield vs Canterbury
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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Deerfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,932 |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Canterbury and Deerfield 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Canterbury 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Deerfield 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% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
| Deerfield and Canterbury 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 |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
| 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 |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury and Deerfield 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 |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Canterbury 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Deerfield School District | Shaker 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.