Compare towns
Plymouth vs Dover vs New Ipswich 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
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Dover | New Ipswich | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
33,364Highest |
5,310Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9Highest 15% below NH |
36.9±2.4Highest 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Dover 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.