Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Holderness vs Durham

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 most kids (18.1% under 18).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.

MeasureSanborntonHoldernessDurham
People
Population
3,053
1,917Lowest
15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4Highest
3% below NH
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
Sanbornton and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Sanbornton and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±4.4
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
55.7%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$41k
15% above NH
$107,863±$45kLowest
9% above NH
$124,056±$21kHighest
25% above NH
Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30k
12% above NH
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$504,300±$41kHighest
25% above NH
Durham and Sanbornton 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
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,731
14% below NH
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
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%
12.1%
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
19 minLowest
27% below NH
Work from home
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5Highest
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 Holderness School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town None in town Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.3
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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.