Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Plaistow
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Hampton Falls | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Plaistow 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%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Plaistow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 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.