Compare towns
Durham vs Milford vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,337Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% 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 |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Milford 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% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton 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±$20k about the NH average |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Milford and Sutton 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 |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.