Compare towns
Plymouth vs Durham vs Somersworth 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Somersworth has the oldest population (median age 38.4).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Durham | Somersworth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
10,681 |
12,111 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plymouth 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% |
14%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Somersworth and Plymouth 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 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 |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.