Compare towns
Durham vs Sutton vs Upton vs Madbury
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Sutton | Upton | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 52% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Upton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.