Compare towns
Durham vs Brentwood 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%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k 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 | Durham | Brentwood | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,641 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Brentwood 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%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Brentwood 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% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Brentwood and Plainfield 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 |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Plainfield 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brentwood School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 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.