Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs Plainfield vs Plymouth
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Lee 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 |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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 |
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.