Compare towns
Durham vs Jefferson vs Unity
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Jefferson has the most kids (12.5% under 18).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Jefferson | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Jefferson and Unity 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% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
| Durham and Unity 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 |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity 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 |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Unity 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% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Jefferson 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 | — | Unity 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 History | 51 photos → | 14 photos → | 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.