Compare towns
Plainfield vs Durham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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 20.8).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Durham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
15,080Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.