Compare towns
Durham vs Dorchester vs Plymouth vs Newmarket
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).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newmarket has the most kids (15.6% 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 | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
6,601 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% 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 |
41.2±1.9 5% 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% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% 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% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
— | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,734 31% 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% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 min 6% above 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% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.