Compare towns
Durham vs Pelham vs Plainfield vs Windham
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).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Pelham | Plainfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,449 |
2,522Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Pelham 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% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Durham 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Pelham School District | Plainfield School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | — | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.