Compare towns
Durham vs Mount Tabor vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Mount Tabor | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
304Lowest |
434 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Peru 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
— | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Peru 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 52% above U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Durham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Peru 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.