Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Barrington 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
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 38.9).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Barrington | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,522Lowest |
9,489 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Plainfield and Barrington 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% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Barrington 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Barrington 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Barrington School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.