Compare towns
Durham vs Center Harbor vs Plainfield
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 20.8).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
955Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.