Compare towns
Durham vs Mason 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 expensive homes ($504k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,451Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Mason and Plymouth 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mason 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 |
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.