Compare towns
Durham vs Holderness vs Windham vs Hanover
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 affordable homes ($363k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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 | Windham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
1,917Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Windham and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover 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 |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District | Windham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Windham High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.