Compare towns
Sullivan vs Durham vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Gilsum has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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.
| Measure | Sullivan | Durham | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
10,681Highest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Sullivan and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Durham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Gilsum 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 | — | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.


