Compare towns
Durham vs Newfields vs Windham vs Madbury
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).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Newfields | Windham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
2,023Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Newfields and Windham 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Windham and Madbury 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$189,583±$19k 91% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Newfields and Windham 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Windham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.