Compare towns
Madbury vs Exeter vs Durham vs Barrington
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Madbury | Exeter | Durham | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,080 |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$759 6% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Durham 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.