Compare towns
Durham vs Dorchester vs Plymouth vs Henniker
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).
Dorchester has the oldest population (median age 56).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Henniker has the most kids (15.3% 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 | Dorchester | Plymouth | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
6,601 |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
— | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Henniker and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
— | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Henniker 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 |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Plymouth 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 |
$8,877 33% 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% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Henniker 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% |
11.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% 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 |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
20 min 24% 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% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Henniker 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 | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| 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.