Compare towns
Durham vs Milford vs Ashland vs Newington
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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Milford | Ashland | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,337Highest |
2,183 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Ashland 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Ashland 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington 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 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Ashland School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.