Compare towns
Durham vs Hollis vs Topsham
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Hollis | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,603Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Topsham 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% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Topsham 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% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Hollis 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% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hollis 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Topsham 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Durham 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.8Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.