Compare towns
Orford vs Durham vs Piermont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Piermont has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
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 | Orford | Durham | Piermont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
15,080Highest |
868Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.4±5.7Highest 14% above NH |
| Piermont and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.6%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.6%±1.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Piermont and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$80,000±$17kLowest 19% below NH |
| Durham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$341,600±$22k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,199±$245Lowest 20% below NH |
| Durham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,142 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63%±23.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Piermont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.7%±9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Piermont and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Piermont School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.