Compare towns
Durham vs Lyme vs Orford vs Madbury
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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Lyme | Orford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,710 |
1,295Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Orford and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.