Compare towns
Durham vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Plaistow | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
7,861Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Hanover 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±$45k 24% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 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 |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.