Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs Newmarket
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Plymouth | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,969Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
22.8±0.9 47% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newmarket and Plymouth 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above 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 |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.