What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Lancaster
People
Population	15,080Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Durham and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	White Mountains Regional 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 Our Story	51 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.