What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newton	Durham
People
Population	4,836Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Newton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH
	Newton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
	Durham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,124Lowest 22% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	18.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Durham and Newton 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	#70 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Sanborn Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.