Compare towns
South Hampton vs Sugar Hill 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
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | South Hampton | Sugar Hill | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
658Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
60.8±2.1Highest 40% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
37.2%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$154,091±$32kHighest 56% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$639,700±$50k 59% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| South Hampton and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,208±$630Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$7,340Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and South Hampton 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 | South Hampton School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.