Compare towns
Durham vs Newfields vs Plaistow vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Newfields | Plaistow | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,861 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Newfields and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Newfields 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Newfields and Plaistow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.