Compare towns
North Hampton vs Plainfield vs Durham vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | North Hampton | Plainfield | Durham | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
2,522 |
15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.