Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Wilder vs Plymouth
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Wilder | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
3,087Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Plymouth 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.