Compare towns
Plymouth vs Kensington vs Lee 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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Kensington | Lee | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,009Lowest |
4,576 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kensington and Lee 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Kensington and Lee 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.