Compare towns

Durham vs Newport vs White River Junction

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Newport has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.

MeasureDurhamNewportWhite River Junction
People
Population
15,080Highest
4,394
3,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
46.4±4.3Highest
19% above U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$54,646±$12kLowest
32% below U.S.
$77,168±$4k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$179,400±$11kLowest
46% below U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
$850±$49Lowest
40% below U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
Durham and White River Junction 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 221% above U.S.
$4,036Lowest
29% above U.S.
$5,651
81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
23%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minHighest
27% below U.S.
15 minLowest
45% below U.S.
15 min
42% below U.S.
Work from home
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±8.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and Newport 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 #63 of 70 in VT —
School district Oyster River Coop School District Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District —
High school in town Oyster River High School North Country Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
—
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U.S. 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.