Moving to Durham: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Durham means moving into a real, genuinely distinct Seacoast college town completely shaped by the University of New Hampshire's main campus.
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Learn moreA real, complete college-town identity
Durham's median age runs a genuinely extreme 20.1 years, with approximately 76.2% of residents aged 15-24 -- a direct, mechanical consequence of UNH's dominant on/off-campus student population relative to Durham's small year-round base (base record).
UNH is real, large, and growing at the incoming-class level
UNH's total enrollment runs approximately 13,554, with a fall 2026 incoming class up nearly 4% year-over-year -- UNH's own announcement bucking a national enrollment-decline trend, even as Durham's own town population has declined (base record).
A real, disclosed housing-cost challenge
Student-housing demand drives a real, cited $498,000 median home value and $3,000-$4,000/month rents, which Durham's own Housing Needs Analysis found makes workforce housing genuinely difficult to develop (base record).
New Hampshire's real statewide tax advantages still apply
Durham benefits from New Hampshire's real lack of a wage-income tax and sales tax, though Durham's own property tax rate (2.90% effective per Ownwell) runs the highest in Strafford County (base record).
Key takeaways
- Durham's 20.1-year median age reflects a genuine, extreme UNH-driven demographic skew.
- UNH's total enrollment runs ~13,554, with a growing incoming class even as Durham's town population has declined.
- Housing runs genuinely expensive ($498,000 median home value) due to direct student-housing demand.
- Durham's 2.90% effective property tax rate is the highest in Strafford County.
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