Compare towns
Durham vs Grantham vs North Hartland vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | North Hartland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,465 |
322Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| North Hartland and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hartland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354k 26% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | — | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,605Lowest 144% above U.S. |
— | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and North Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Grantham School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | 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 | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.