Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bennington 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
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Plainfield | Bennington | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
1,588Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.