Compare towns
Durham vs Center Harbor vs Plymouth 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 people working from home (19.4%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Center Harbor | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
955Lowest |
6,601 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plymouth and Center Harbor 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below 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±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% 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 |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.