Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Milford 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 most people working from home (19.4%).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Newmarket | Milford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
9,463Lowest |
16,337Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newmarket and Milford 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$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±$143 4% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Milford School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Milford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
— |
| 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.