Compare towns
Durham vs North Hampton vs Madbury vs Newmarket
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).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | North Hampton | Madbury | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,543 |
2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Madbury and North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| North Hampton and Newmarket 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Durham 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.