Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs China
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Plainfield | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
2,522Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±5.9 5% above U.S. |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Plainfield School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.