Median Income
$93,542
household / year
Median Home Value
$431,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,216
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Durham, NH a Good Place to Live?

Durham is a small city of 10,789 in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $93,542 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Durham stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Durham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Durham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Durham's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Durham costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric Durham, NH National Avg
Median Home Value $431,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,216 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 54.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $93,542 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Durham's violent crime rate is 40.8 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
40.8 /100k
Property Crime
224.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Durham is served primarily by Oyster River Coop School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Durham, NH National Avg
School District Oyster River Coop School District —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 75.3% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 98.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Durham sees average highs of 32.9°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 45.4 inches of annual precipitation and 38.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricDurham, NH
Average High — January32.9°F
Average High — July82.5°F
Annual Precipitation45.4"
Annual Snowfall38.9"

Demographics

MetricDurham, NHNational Avg
Population10,789—
Median Age20.038.9
Unemployment Rate3.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time16.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)89.4%59.3%
Black or African American0.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.9%18.9%
Asian4.2%6.3%
Under 186.6%22.2%
65 and over6.1%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dover, NH 4 mi Newmarket, NH 5 mi South Eliot, ME 7 mi Newfields, NH 7 mi Somersworth, NH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Durham

Durham, NH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

03824

Durham vs Other Cities

Durham, NH vs Dover, NH Durham, NH vs Newmarket, NH Durham, NH vs South Eliot, ME Durham, NH vs Newfields, NH Durham, NH vs Somersworth, NH

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Durham roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $431,500 and median rent is $1,216/month.
Durham's violent crime rate is 40.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 224.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Durham are operated by Oyster River Coop School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 75.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Durham, NH has a population of 10,789, a median household income of $93,542, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Durham averages 32.9°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.4 inches with about 38.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Durham, NH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 03824.
The population of Durham, New Hampshire is 10,789 with a median age of 20.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Durham: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $431,500, median household income $93,542, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Durham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.