Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Brookline 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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
5,736Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 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.