Compare towns
Stratton vs Durham vs Whiting vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Durham | Whiting | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
15,080Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1 19% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33k 52% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Durham and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wardsboro 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.