Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs South Berwick vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
South Berwick has the oldest population (median age 41.4).
Henniker has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | South Berwick | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,381 |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1 20% below U.S. |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | — | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.