Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Keene vs Hanover
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | Plainfield | Keene | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,522Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover 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±$45k 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Keene School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.