What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Grafton
People
Population	15,080Highest	1,354Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH	$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH
	Durham and Grafton 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	$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH	$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH
	Durham and Grafton 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	$5,239Lowest 21% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Grafton 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%	7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	43 minHighest 62% above NH
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Grafton 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	—
High school in town	Oyster River High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.