Compare towns
Durham vs East Kingston vs Kensington vs Plymouth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
East Kingston has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | East Kingston | Kensington | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,311 |
2,009Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| East Kingston and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and East Kingston 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% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Kensington and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Kensington and East Kingston 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 |
— | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,604 44% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| East Kingston 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | East Kingston School District | Kensington School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 9 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.