What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

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	Lunenburg	Durham
People
Population	11,902Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Durham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lunenburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Lunenburg	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

U.S. 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.