Compare towns
Durham vs Derry vs Dunbarton
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).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Derry | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
34,116Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton 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% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Derry 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Durham and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Derry 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 |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dunbarton 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| 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.