Compare towns
Center Harbor 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
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Center Harbor | Durham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
10,681Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plymouth and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Plymouth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.