Compare towns
Durham vs New London vs Springfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
New London has the most expensive homes ($554k median).
Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
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 London | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,433 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
52.8±6.7Highest 22% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| New London and Springfield 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% |
12%±3 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield and New London 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% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.6% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$107,773±$10k 9% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$554,100±$64kHighest 38% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| New London and Durham 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 |
$1,594±$551Highest 7% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| New London 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 |
$6,325 5% below NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New London 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% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Springfield 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 | #17 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional 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 |
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.