Compare towns
Madbury vs Hillsborough vs Pembroke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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.
| Measure | Madbury | Hillsborough | Pembroke | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
5,980 |
7,438 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% 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 |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Pembroke 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 | — | #97 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.