Compare towns
Durham vs New Boston vs Northwood vs Nottingham
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).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | New Boston | Northwood | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,165 |
4,688Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Nottingham 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% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Nottingham 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
| New Boston and Northwood 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 |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Durham and New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.