Compare towns
Orford vs Durham vs Wentworth
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 oldest population (median age 48.9).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wentworth has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Wentworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
15,080Highest |
1,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36±5.1 17% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±7.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.2%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Wentworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$97,708±$24k about the NH average |
| Durham and Wentworth 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 |
$304,500±$39k 24% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,659±$794Highest 11% above NH |
| Wentworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,532Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±43.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Wentworth 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 |
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| 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.