Compare towns
Newmarket vs Milford vs Ashland vs Durham
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).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Milford | Ashland | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
16,337Highest |
2,183Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Ashland and Newmarket 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Milford School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Milford High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.