Compare towns
Durham vs Weare vs Strafford
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).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Weare | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
9,170 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Strafford 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% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Weare 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Durham and Strafford 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Durham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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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.