Compare towns
Durham vs Grafton vs Hancock
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).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Grafton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,354Lowest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Grafton 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% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Hancock 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% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Hancock 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 |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hancock 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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 | — | Contoocook Valley 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.