Compare towns
Durham vs Strafford vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
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 | Strafford | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Warren 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Warren 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$7,284 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 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.