Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Plymouth vs White River Junction
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Keene has the oldest population (median age 37.6).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Keene | Plymouth | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,939Highest |
6,601 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Keene and White River Junction 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Durham and Keene 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | Plymouth Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.3Lowest |
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.