Compare towns
Durham vs Dorchester vs Hampton Falls
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).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Dorchester and Hampton Falls 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% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Dorchester 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Hampton Falls 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% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
— | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | 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.