Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs Madbury vs Portsmouth
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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Plymouth | Madbury | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
6,601 |
2,203Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.