Compare towns
Durham vs White River Junction vs Keene 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Keene | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
3,364 |
22,939Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Madbury and Keene 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.