Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Brookline | Durham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
15,080Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plymouth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.