Compare towns
Deerfield vs Plainfield vs Durham vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Deerfield | Plainfield | Durham | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
2,522Lowest |
15,080Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Deerfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
| Deerfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Nottingham 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.