Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,426Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% 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±$45k 24% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hampton 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% 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 3% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
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| 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.