Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.