Compare towns
Durham vs Holderness vs Freedom
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).
Holderness has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Holderness | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,917 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Holderness and Freedom 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% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Holderness 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% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Durham and Holderness 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 |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923 41% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Durham 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% |
12.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Freedom 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 | Holderness School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | 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.