Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Durham vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Sanbornton | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Highest 3% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop 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.