Compare towns
Durham vs Rochester vs Strafford
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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Rochester | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
33,144Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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 NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Durham and Strafford 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Durham 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Durham 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Strafford 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.2Highest |
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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.