Compare towns
Durham vs Dorchester 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%).
Dorchester has the oldest population (median age 56).
Plymouth has the most kids (13.6% under 18).
Durham has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Dorchester | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
6,601 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
— | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% 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% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plymouth and Dorchester 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest 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% |
35.8%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% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest 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 |
— | $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 |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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.