Compare towns
Durham vs Jackson vs Durham
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 most kids (10.3% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Jackson | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
897Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2 NH: 18.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Durham and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Jackson 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 50% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 27% below NH |
19 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Jackson School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | 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.