Compare towns
Madbury vs Deerfield vs Brentwood 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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Deerfield | Brentwood | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,932 |
4,641 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Brentwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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 |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Brentwood and Deerfield 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 |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Deerfield 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 | — | #61 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Deerfield School District | Brentwood School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.