Compare towns
Durham vs Kingston vs Townsend vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Kingston | Townsend | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,275Lowest |
9,100 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Townsend 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Sanborn Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.