Compare towns
Durham vs Northwood vs Sanbornton
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).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Sanbornton has the most kids (18.1% under 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 | Northwood | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,688 |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Northwood and Sanbornton 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Northwood 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
| Northwood 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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 |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.