Cost of Living in Durham, NH
Cost of Living in Durham, NH has an overall index of 148, 48% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $672,668; typical monthly rent is $1,338; and median household income is $109,934.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
Can your household carry the housing cost?
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Other New Hampshire cities with a useful tradeoff.
Recommendations require usable housing and income data and exclude very small places for a city of this scale.
Frequently asked questions about Durham
Living in Durham
Is Durham, NH an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Durham is about 48% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 148. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $672,668, and monthly rents average roughly $1,338. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Durham fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,338, while local median household income is $109,934. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 15% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Durham, NH?+
This model applies no broad New Hampshire wage-income tax. Applying the 1.86% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $672,668 gives a planning estimate near $12,512 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. The snapshot reports no state sales tax.
How much does it cost to rent in Durham, NH?+
The typical monthly rent in Durham is around $1,338. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $672,668, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Durham, NH?+
The typical home value in Durham is $672,668. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $3,265/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 55% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Durham?+
Grocery prices in Durham are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 100, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 149). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Durham, NH like to live in?+
Durham is a small town with a population of about 10,577. The median age of residents is 20, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 14.54%, near the national average of 12.4%.