Compare towns
Bennington vs Durham vs Lee vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bennington | Durham | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,576 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Lee and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.