Compare towns
Durham vs Needham vs Newington
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).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Newington has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Needham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
32,459Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46k 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newington 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.