Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Madbury vs Newfields
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Keene | Madbury | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,939Highest |
2,203 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Madbury 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$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% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.