Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Newington
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 kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522 |
10,681Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington 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±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Plainfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.