Compare towns
Durham vs Durham vs Exeter 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
Durham has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Durham has the highest household income ($124k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Durham | Durham | Exeter | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
15,080 |
16,151Highest |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Plymouth 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% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham 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±$45k 24% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 59 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.