Compare towns
Durham vs Wells vs Plymouth
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Wells | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,713 |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Plymouth 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Durham and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Wells High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.