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Living in
Durham.
Durham is an unincorporated community in Strafford County, NH. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Durham
Durham is a community of 10,577 people in New Hampshire. The median household income is $112,070, median rent runs about $1,302 per month, and median home values are around $498,000. Unemployment is low at 2.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Durham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
20.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
4.4%
Broadband Internet
85.2%
of households
Population Growth
-5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.4% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Durham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Durham, the largest foreign-born group is from India (27.6%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
6.5%
of residents
65 and Older
7.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.8%
of households
Married Couples
49.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below NH average
Rent, home values, and income in Durham
In Durham, rent runs 13% below the NH average, and home values are 24% above the NH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
53.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
29.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $698,927 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below NH average
Unemployment in Durham
Unemployment in Strafford County, which includes Durham, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the NH average.
Unemployment rate
Durham: Strafford County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Strafford County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Durham Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.2 min avg
How Durham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Durham, most residents drive alone to work (43%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 53 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 72% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Durham runs 72% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
92.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
204
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Durham Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Strafford County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Strafford County, which includes Durham, the most common type is winter storm, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Winter Storm | $133,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Drought | $120,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 12 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Strafford County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rockingham County, NH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 13 miles from Durham) is typically good — 309 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
309
per year
Moderate Days
54
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rockingham County, NH (13 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Durham has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
38.9"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
155
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
146
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 14°F | 3.43" |
| Feb | 36°F | 16°F | 3.53" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 4.58" |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 3.96" |
| May | 67°F | 43°F | 3.76" |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 3.96" |
| Jul | 81°F | 58°F | 3.67" |
| Aug | 80°F | 57°F | 3.45" |
| Sep | 72°F | 49°F | 3.98" |
| Oct | 60°F | 39°F | 4.29" |
| Nov | 48°F | 29°F | 3.97" |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 4.43" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Durham
Uninsured
1.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Durham's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wentworth-douglass Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Dover
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Portsmouth
Exeter Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Exeter
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Durham
Durham's student/teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 75.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
75.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Durham
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
Public · 4-year · 11,261 students · in-state tuition $19,682 · 78% graduate · median earnings $71,477 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 1,259 students · in-state tuition $7,650 · 36% graduate · median earnings $54,240 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Durham
Durham has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
45 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
55 mi awayPublic Libraries in Durham
Durham Public Library
49 Madbury Road, Durham
Cities Near Durham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Durham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Durham FAQ
Is Durham, New Hampshire affordable?⌄
Durham's median rent is $1,302/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $112,070/year. Median home value is $498,000.
Is Durham, New Hampshire safe?⌄
Durham's violent crime rate was 92 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 204 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Durham, New Hampshire?⌄
Strafford County, which includes Durham, has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Durham, New Hampshire?⌄
The cost of living in Durham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,302/month and median household income is $112,070/year. The median home value is $498,000. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Durham, New Hampshire?⌄
The average commute in Durham is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from