Compare towns
Durham vs Somersworth vs Auburn
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).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Somersworth | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
12,111 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Somersworth 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Auburn 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% |
14%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Somersworth and Auburn 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Durham 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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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.