What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (17.6% under 18).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).

Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Durham
People
Population	4,306Lowest	10,681Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH	20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH	$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH
	Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH	$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH
	Durham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH	$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH
	Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	55.4%±19.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Strafford and Durham 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	#73 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Strafford School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.