Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs Brentwood vs Madbury
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Brentwood has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Plymouth | Brentwood | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,601 |
4,641 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood 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% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.