The Town FilesDurham, New Hampshire
Town in Strafford County · population 15,490 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $504,300
- Household income
- $124,056
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 20.8
Durham is a town of 15,490 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $504,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks hipper than 98% of New Hampshire towns, more walkable than 97% of New Hampshire towns, more of a college town than 97% of New Hampshire towns.
How Durham ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Durham is worth $504,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $124,056, which is more affordable than 35% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,429 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durham | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $504,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,429 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $124,056 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Durham
| People | Durham | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.8 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 10.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.4% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 92.5% |
Weather in Durham
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 3, 1976 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 1978.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Strafford County since 1996
Strafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Strafford County
Strafford County had 46,517 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Durham itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Durham
3 public schools with 1,482 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster River High School | 9-13 | 838 | 12.7 |
| Oyster River Middle School | 5-8 | 618 | 10.8 |
| Oyster River Preschool Education Program | PK-PK | 26 | 8.7 |
Towns near Durham
- Durham, NH1.8 mi · 11,147 people · home $498,000
- Newmarket, NH3.1 mi · 5,797 people · home $423,500
- Newmarket, NH3.5 mi · 9,430 people · home $455,000
- Lee, NH4.5 mi · 4,520 people · home $480,600
- Dover, NH5.1 mi · 32,741 people · home $436,700
- South Eliot, ME6.5 mi · 3,719 people · home $475,600
- Greenland, NH6.5 mi · 4,067 people · home $662,800
- Stratham, NH7.1 mi · 7,669 people · home $655,400
Durham questions
Is Durham, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durham scores better for retirees than 16% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 1%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.8).
How much does a house cost in Durham?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham is valued at $504,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $124,056, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,429 a month.
What is the weather like in Durham?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Durham get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 3, 1976. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)