Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Rochester has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Durham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
10,681 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Durham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Rochester 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.