Compare towns

Plymouth vs Durham vs Keene vs Holderness

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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.

MeasurePlymouthDurhamKeeneHolderness
People
Population
6,601
10,681
22,939Highest
1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
24.6±3.4
43% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
39.4±7.4Highest
9% below NH
Holderness and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Holderness and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
55.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26kLowest
22% below NH
$112,070±$25kHighest
13% above NH
$78,445±$8k
21% below NH
$107,863±$45k
9% above NH
Durham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22k
27% below NH
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$363,100±$60k
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255Lowest
26% below NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288
6% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,812
about the NH average
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Keene 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%
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1973
6 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
31% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
11.7%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH —
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District — Keene School District Holderness School District
High school in town Plymouth Regional High School — Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
12.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.