Compare towns
Plymouth vs Durham vs Keene
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 (+5.8%).
Keene has the oldest population (median age 37.6).
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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Keene 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Durham and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
19 minHighest 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.