Compare towns
Durham vs Sutton vs Loudon
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,239Lowest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Loudon 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Loudon 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
| 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±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Sutton 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 50% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Loudon 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.