What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).

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	Hartford
People
Population	15,080Highest	10,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Durham and Hartford 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.	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Hartford 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%	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.