Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Plainfield vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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 homeowners (87.3%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Lebanon | Plainfield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | — | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.