Compare towns
Durham vs Newington vs Plymouth vs South Berwick
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Newington | Plymouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
939Lowest |
6,601 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Newington and South Berwick 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% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and South Berwick 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Newington 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Berwick 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.