Compare towns
Durham vs North Hampton vs Wells
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | North Hampton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,543Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Wells 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% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and North Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Hampton School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.