Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Mont Vernon vs Henniker
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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,522Lowest |
2,636 |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Mont Vernon 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Henniker 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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 |
$1,104±$185 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Mont Vernon School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.