Compare towns
Durham vs Lancaster 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
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Lancaster | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,606Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 52% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Nashoba | — |
| 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 → | 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.