Compare towns
Durham vs Madbury vs Newmarket vs Hanover
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Madbury | Newmarket | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Newmarket and Madbury 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.