Compare towns
Durham vs Milford vs Lee 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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
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 | Milford | Lee | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,337Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Milford 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Lee 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±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | None in town | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.