Compare towns
Hancock vs Durham vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Newbury has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Hancock | Durham | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
| Hancock and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
| Newbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
| Durham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
— |
| Durham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newbury 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.