What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Kingston	Durham
People
Population	2,311Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,194±$38kHighest 40% above NH	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH
	East Kingston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$575,500±$56kHighest 43% above NH	$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH
	East Kingston and Durham 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
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Lowest 44% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	East Kingston 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
School district	East Kingston School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	9 photos →	51 photos →

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.