Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Orford
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Hartford | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,736 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford and Hartford 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%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% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Durham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Durham and Orford 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. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.6 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.