Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs South Berwick vs Lebanon
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 highest household income ($124k).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | South Berwick | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,601Lowest |
7,670 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Lebanon 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% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Durham and South Berwick 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. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Marshwood High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.8 |
13.0Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.