Durham, NH — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Strafford County · Boston-Cambridge-Newton · population 11,147

InvestorsSmall-town feel
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71
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Durham stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 8.0% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $696,075
1-year -0.1%
5-yr CAGR +8.0%
vs 5-yr peak -1.2%

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2025-09$696k$310k$451k$592k$732k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
55/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 21.1
Lean rent

At a 21.1 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Durham. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
50 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
79 · w22%
Distance from peak
83 · w18%
Home 10-yr CAGR
79 · w10%
Long thesis

Durham has held up across the cycle: home values at $696,075 with +8.0% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Durham's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Durham

Durham is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, with an estimated population of 11,147. It anchors the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. The median home value in Durham is $696,075 as of 2026-04, down 0.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.0% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Durham average $2,750 per month. The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.0% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
Held the highs: currently -1.2% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

Bear case

Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Strafford County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Strafford County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Durham

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
31° / 13°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
80° / 58°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
197
~54% of year
Annual precip
43″ rain
62″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Durham listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
72%
Humid climate
Median household income
$90,800
New Hampshire state median
Top industries (state-level)
ManufacturingHealthcareTourism

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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