Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Rye vs Madbury
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Eliot | Rye | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
5,611 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | 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 | None yet |
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.