Compare towns
Durham vs Henniker vs Newmarket vs Plaistow
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 youngest population (median age 20.1).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Newmarket has the most people working from home (17.3%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Henniker | Newmarket | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,197Lowest |
9,463 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Newmarket and Plaistow 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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newmarket 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Henniker 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Durham and Plaistow 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Plaistow 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 |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Henniker School District | Newmarket School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.