Compare towns
Nottingham vs Brentwood vs Durham vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Nottingham | Brentwood | Durham | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
4,641Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Brentwood and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.