Compare towns
Durham vs Grantham vs Lee vs Plainfield
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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Grantham | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,465 |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Grantham and Lee 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% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— | — | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Grantham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.