Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hanover | Plainfield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
2,522Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover 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±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.