Compare towns
Nottingham vs Durham vs Auburn vs Barnstead
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Durham | Auburn | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
15,080Highest |
6,119 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Barnstead 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Nottingham and Auburn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.