What is the cost of living in Durham, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Durham has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Durham has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Durham ranks as #22 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Durham ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Durham, check out:
Durham Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Durham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Durham is 103.
The Groceries index in Durham is 104.
The Health index in Durham is 180.
The Housing index in Durham is 105.
The Transportation index in Durham is 107.
The Utilities index in Durham is 107.
| Living Expense | Durham | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 180 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 102 | 100 |
Durham Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Durham, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Durham is $683,122.
The Median Rent in Durham is $1,302.
The Median Income in Durham is $112,070.
The Home Value To Income in Durham is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Durham is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Durham | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $683,122 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,302 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $112,070 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Durham, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Durham Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Durham | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Durham Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Durham | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Durham Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Durham | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Durham Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Durham | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Durham Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Durham | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Durham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Durham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Durham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dover, NH has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Durham.
Rochester, NH has a cost of living index of 103, 0.8x Durham.
Portsmouth, NH has a cost of living index of 137, 1.1x Durham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, NH | 33,364 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Rochester, NH | 33,144 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Portsmouth, NH | 22,545 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Somersworth, NH | 12,111 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, NH | 10,101 | 130 | 1.0x |
| Exeter, NH | 9,964 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Newmarket, NH | 5,679 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Kittery, ME | 5,110 | 125 | 1.0x |
