Compare towns
Madbury vs Rollinsford vs Durham vs Mont Vernon
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).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,626 |
15,080Highest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Mont Vernon and Rollinsford 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% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Mont Vernon 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% 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 |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% 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 |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Rollinsford 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 | — | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.