Compare towns
Durham vs Plaistow vs Norwich
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).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
7,861 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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 50% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Norwich 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. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.