Compare towns
South Hooksett 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
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | South Hooksett | Durham | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1Highest 13% below NH |
| Madbury and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Madbury and South Hooksett 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% 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 | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Madbury 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 | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school 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.