Compare towns
Durham vs Wilmot vs Hillsborough
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%).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wilmot | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,487Lowest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Wilmot 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Hillsborough 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% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham and Wilmot 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 |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Durham and Hillsborough 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 |
$6,651 about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hillsborough 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% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Wilmot 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 | — | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.