Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth
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).
Plymouth has the most homeowners (56.3%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
6,601 |
3,364Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Portsmouth 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% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Durham and Portsmouth 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. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School | — | 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 |
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.