Compare towns
Durham vs Ogunquit vs Townsend vs Newmarket
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Ogunquit | Townsend | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,100 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Durham and Townsend 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Newmarket and Townsend 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Townsend 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | North Middlesex | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | North Middlesex Regional | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 13.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.