Compare towns
Durham vs Newmarket vs Plymouth vs Somersworth
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 highest household income ($124k).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Newmarket | Plymouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
9,463 |
4,969Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
22.8±0.9 47% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Newmarket and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Newmarket and Somersworth 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Somersworth 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | — | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.