Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs Norwich vs Plymouth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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 | Lee | Norwich | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,576 |
3,640Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
| Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Norwich 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.