Compare towns
Durham vs Stratham vs Milford vs Madbury
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).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Stratham | Milford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
7,754 |
16,337Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Milford 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Milford 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.