Compare towns
Durham vs Canterbury vs Plainfield vs Durham
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Canterbury | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,353Lowest |
2,522 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| Canterbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.