Compare towns
Lincoln vs Durham vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Lincoln | Durham | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,461 |
15,080Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46.5±9.7 7% above NH |
| Lincoln and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.8%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$54k 29% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH |
| Durham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,194±$112 20% below NH |
| Durham and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,984 55% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$2,554Lowest 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.2%±97.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.2%±18.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.