Compare towns
Durham vs White River Junction vs Plainfield vs Hanover
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | White River Junction | Plainfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
3,364 |
2,522Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hanover 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Plainfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.