Compare towns
Durham vs New Boston vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,165 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and New Boston 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% 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 |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Durham 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
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| 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.