Compare towns
Salisbury vs Durham vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Salisbury | Durham | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Salisbury and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Salisbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.