Compare towns
Newmarket vs Rye vs Keene 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Rye | Keene | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
5,611Lowest |
22,939Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Newmarket 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Rye and Durham 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Rye School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Keene High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
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.