Compare towns
Madbury vs Keene vs Rollinsford 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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Keene | Rollinsford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
22,939Highest |
2,626 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5Highest 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Madbury 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$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±$759 6% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Madbury 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Rollinsford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.