Compare towns
Durham vs New Ipswich vs Pembroke 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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | New Ipswich | Pembroke | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
5,310Lowest |
7,438 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Pembroke and New Ipswich 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke 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% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Pembroke and New Ipswich 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Durham and Pembroke 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Durham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mascenic Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Mascenic Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.