Compare towns
Durham vs Milford vs Durham 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 most people working from home (19.4%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Madbury has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,337Highest |
10,681 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.7±2.1Highest 13% below NH |
| Madbury and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Milford and Madbury 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury 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±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Milford and Madbury 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | — | 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.