Compare towns
Durham vs Ashland 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Durham | Ashland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.