Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Henniker
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).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Lebanon | Plainfield | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Henniker 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Henniker 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.