Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Rochester
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).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
9,463Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Newmarket 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.9Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.