Compare towns
Madbury vs Norwich vs Durham vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Norwich | Durham | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,640 |
10,681Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Holderness 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | — | Holderness 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 |
U.S. 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.