Population 13,514 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Durham
Household size in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.60 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.84 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.45 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Durham average 2.84 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Household size has climbed from 2.38 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6 | 38.9 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 24.8 | 39.7 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 26.3 | 40.4 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.7 | 40.8 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.0 | +1.9 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Durham is young: half of its residents are under 31.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 25.6, as it has nationally. No other New Hampshire city with 5,000+ people is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 10.4% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 9.6% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 9.7% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Durham: 3.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only five of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Durham
Renters in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7% | 36.8% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 38.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.1% | 38.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.5% | 38.4% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | +1.6 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Durham is about as common as it is nationally: 37.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (48.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southeast. The renter share has fallen 6.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 8.1% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 7.4% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 7.3% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.3% | 6.7% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +20.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Durham: 33.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 20.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1958 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1959 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1961 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1964 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Durham has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,086 | $1,171 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,195 | $1,251 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,095 | $1,537 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,761 | $2,051 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$675 | +$881 | +$580 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Durham costs $1,761 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the wider Boston area ($2,051). Rents are up $675 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 42.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Durham
Bachelor's degrees in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.1% | 42.2% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 81.5% | 44.1% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 78.0% | 48.2% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 67.0% | 51.9% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Durham is highly educated: about two-thirds of adults 25 and older (67.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is down 7.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.8% | 89.8% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.8% | 90.6% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.0% | 91.5% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.5% | 91.8% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Durham: 98.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only five have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Durham
| Period | Durham | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Durham runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Durham compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | 2.84 | 31.7 | 3.6% | 37.5% | 33.3% | 1988 | $1,761 | 67.0% | 98.5% | 3.9% |
| Madbury | 3.00 | 34.5 | 9.0% | 20.7% | 10.2% | 1985 | $1,505 | 58.8% | 98.0% | 2.9% |
| Lee | 2.72 | 40.6 | 5.2% | 8.3% | 9.6% | 1986 | $1,547 | 52.1% | 97.4% | 3.0% |
| Newmarket | 2.19 | 41.9 | 7.5% | 47.1% | 4.6% | 1982 | $1,636 | 49.5% | 97.6% | 1.2% |
| Newington | 2.71 | 44.1 | 2.8% | 11.0% | 1.8% | 1980 | $2,430 | 77.1% | 99.5% | 1.4% |
| Dover | 2.22 | 39.8 | 6.9% | 46.6% | 4.1% | 1976 | $1,578 | 52.0% | 97.0% | 4.1% |
| Eliot | 2.32 | 50.8 | 11.1% | 20.1% | 4.7% | 1973 | $1,854 | 45.0% | 99.6% | 3.8% |
| Newfields | 2.98 | 44.0 | 4.7% | 11.5% | 2.3% | 1990 | $1,767 | 63.1% | 97.3% | 1.3% |
| Barrington | 2.78 | 39.3 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 6.4% | 1987 | $1,900 | 42.0% | 97.3% | 1.8% |
| Greenland | 2.50 | 48.8 | 3.4% | 7.0% | 4.5% | 1987 | $2,442 | 61.4% | 98.1% | 2.4% |
| Rollinsford | 2.74 | 37.3 | 17.1% | 36.8% | 7.8% | 1953 | $1,694 | 33.9% | 95.0% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Holiday City-Berkeley, NJ · Selinsgrove, PA · Scottsville, KY · Savannah, TN · Sabana Hoyos, PR · Robinson, TX · Las Marias, PR · Kingsgate, WA · Jackson, OH · Holly Springs, MS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Durham. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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