Compare towns
Sharon vs Durham vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Sharon | Durham | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577 |
15,080Highest |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Durham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Durham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Cavendish 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 | Sharon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 18 photos → |
U.S. 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.