Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton vs Durham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Hampton | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,426Highest |
10,681 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lee 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee 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±$41k 25% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— |
| Hampton 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.