Compare towns
Madbury vs Mont Vernon vs Canterbury 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).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Mont Vernon | Canterbury | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,636 |
2,353 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Canterbury and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Canterbury 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Shaker Regional 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 | 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.