Compare towns
Madbury vs Laconia 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).
Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
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 | Laconia | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
17,085Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% 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 |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below 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 |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Laconia 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Laconia School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.