Compare towns
Durham vs Kensington vs Durham vs Plymouth
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 most people working from home (19.4%).
Kensington has the oldest population (median age 43.3).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Kensington | Durham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,009Lowest |
10,681 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Kensington 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 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Kensington 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.