Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Roxbury vs Sullivan
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 expensive homes ($504k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Sullivan has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Roxbury | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,939Highest |
299Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
— | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Roxbury 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.6% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Durham and Sullivan 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 |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Durham and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
— | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Durham and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,787 13% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Keene 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | — | — |
| 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.