Compare towns
Newmarket vs Durham vs Barnstead vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newmarket | Durham | Barnstead | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
15,080Highest |
4,994 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.