Compare towns
Newmarket vs Plymouth vs Durham 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
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Durham has the most homeowners (64.4%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Newmarket | Plymouth | Durham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
6,601Lowest |
10,681 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 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+ | 16.1%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newmarket and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% 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 | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.