Compare towns
Madbury vs Candia vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 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 | Madbury | Candia | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,134 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Madbury and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Madbury 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 | — | #41 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Candia School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.