Compare towns
Durham vs Rye vs Keene
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Rye | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
5,611Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Keene 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rye 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 25% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.3 |
| 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.