Compare towns
Plainfield vs Lebanon vs Durham vs North Hartland
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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
North Hartland has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Lebanon | Durham | North Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522 |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
322Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
59.2±4.6Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±17.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hartland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$51,161±$50kLowest 37% below 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$420,000±$354k 26% 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±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and North Hartland 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.