Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Windsor
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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 | Lebanon | Plainfield | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
14,999 |
2,522 |
2,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
44.6±12.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Windsor and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.