Compare towns

Mont Vernon vs Durham vs Center Harbor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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.

MeasureMont VernonDurhamCenter Harbor
People
Population
2,636
10,681Highest
955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.9±2.8
about the NH average
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
60.4±4.8Highest
39% above NH
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
11.9%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
15.6%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
39.5%±13.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.8%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
47.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±2.8
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
0.9%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,036±$19kHighest
60% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$104,313±$16kLowest
5% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$526,300±$39kHighest
31% above NH
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
$463,800±$74kLowest
15% 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
$1,104±$185Lowest
26% below NH
$1,302±$211Highest
13% below NH
—
Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,432
41% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$4,667Lowest
30% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.4%±80.8
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
14.3%±59.4Lowest
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
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
Work from home
26.6%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
8.9%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #4 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH —
School district Mont Vernon School District — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.