Compare towns
Madbury vs Thetford vs Durham
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).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Thetford | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,813 |
10,681Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Thetford 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| 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 11% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Thetford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.