What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Sutton
People
Population	15,080Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
	Sutton 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±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Durham and Sutton 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.	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Sutton
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	51 photos →	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.