Compare towns
Durham vs Tuftonboro vs Lyndeborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Tuftonboro has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Tuftonboro | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,569 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Lyndeborough 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Tuftonboro and Lyndeborough 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% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Lyndeborough 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% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Lyndeborough 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 |
$462,300±$46k 15% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough 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 |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyndeborough 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Lyndeborough 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| 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 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.