Compare towns
Durham vs Stowe vs Madbury vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% 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 | Stowe | Madbury | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,285 |
2,203Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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 52% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Madbury and Stowe 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. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Stowe Town School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Stowe High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.