Compare towns
Durham vs Jackson vs Sandwich
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Sandwich has the most people working from home (36.1%).
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 | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
897Lowest |
1,757 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
63.6±2.8Highest 47% above NH |
| Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
7%±3 NH: 18.2% |
| Durham and Sandwich 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% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
46.6%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
63.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH |
$140,694±$22kHighest 42% above NH |
| Sandwich and Durham 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 |
$437,700±$79kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,679±$1k 13% above NH |
| Jackson and Sandwich 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 |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$4,494Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.4%±41.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sandwich 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
94%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
36.1%±16.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandwich and Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative 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.