What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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.

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

Measure	Durham	Mansfield
People
Population	15,080Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Mansfield
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	51 photos →	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.