Compare towns
Durham vs Sanbornton vs Warner vs Newmarket
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).
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
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 | Sanbornton | Warner | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,053 |
2,959Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
43.7±4Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Warner 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% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Warner 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%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton and Warner 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% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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 |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$353,100±$22kLowest 12% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$7,650 15% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Warner 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.