Compare towns
Durham vs Nelson vs Sullivan vs Durham
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 highest household income ($124k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Nelson | Sullivan | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% 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±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Nelson 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 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.