Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Durham vs Madbury vs Canterbury
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 people working from home (26.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Mont Vernon | Durham | Madbury | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above 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 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 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+ | 15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% 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 | $526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest 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 | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 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 | Mont Vernon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.