Compare towns
Durham vs Randolph vs Ira
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).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Randolph | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,843 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Randolph and Ira 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Randolph 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% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Durham and Randolph 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Randolph Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.